World doping agency wants U.S. evidence

LAUSANNE, Switzerland --

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday urged U.S. authorities to quickly hand over evidence collected in their long investigation into Lance Armstrong and doping in American cycling.

WADA president John Fahey said that federal agencies in the United States gathered "significant evidence" in the criminal investigation that was abruptly closed last week with no charges filed and no explanation given.

Fahey said it would be "very, very helpful if that information was handed over" to the U.S Anti-Doping Agency. That agency has said it will continue its investigation into doping in cycling.

Also Tuesday, Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador said he is considering appealing his two-year doping ban, maintained his innocence and said he has no plans to retire after being stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title Monday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Federal prosecutors dropped the investigation of Armstrong, the only seven-time winner of the Tour de France, on Friday, ending a nearly two-year effort aimed at determining whether he and his teammates had a doping program in place.

"There has been significant evidence taken on anti-doping areas, on what may have occurred in the way of doping. It would be very, very helpful if that information was handed over," Fahey said of the investigation led by federal agent Jeff Novitzky, who also investigated baseball players Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

"The United States anti-doping organization is keen to get hold of that evidence, and we would like to see that happen because there could well be some very relevant information there."

David Howman, WADA's director general, noted that U.S. federal agencies previously shared evidence gathered in their investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution ring and that WADA anticipates evidence from the Armstrong investigation "will be shared in the same way." He expressed hope that could be done before the London Olympics open in July, in case "there is evidence in relation to" athletes competing in the Olympics.

WADA's code has an eight-year statute of limitations for doping offenses. That raises questions about whether USADA would be able to make full use of evidence gathered in the federal investigation, which was believed to be focused on the time Armstrong rode for the U.S. Postal Service team, until 2004.

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In Madrid, Contador said he completely disagreed with the CAS, which rejected his claim that his positive test for the steroid clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat.

"Something doesn't work with the system," Contador said at a crowded media conference. "We will fight as far as we need to demonstrate my innocence."

Contador said his attorneys are examining whether to appeal to Switzerland's supreme court, the only body he can turn to in hopes of being exonerated.

"I've tried everything to understand this ruling, but I cannot. I cannot understand this ban they have handed me," Contador said. "If there is anything else I can do to prove my innocence, I'd like to know."

Contador would not comment on his financial situation, with the International Cycling Union considering a fine equivalent to $3.25 million. Bjarne Riis, the director of Contador's Saxo Bank-SunGard team, said Tuesday that Contador would not be paid if he is not racing.

Contador did not comment when asked if there was a vendetta against him, led by the UCI or the World Anti-Doping Agency. Because the ban was backdated, he cannot race until Aug. 6 and will miss the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and London Olympics. He did not say whether he will line up for the Spanish Vuelta, which will start Aug. 18.

"I'm sure of one thing: I want to come back to ride the best races," Contador said.