Alberto Contador risks a two-year ban and losing his 2010 Tour de France title after the UCI requested the Spanish National Cycling Federation to open disciplinary proceedings.

Contador, who also won the Tour de France in 2009 and 2007, tested positive for clenbuterol on the second rest day of this year’s Tour.

The 27-year-old, riding for Astana at the time before switching to    Saxo Bank-SunGuard, went on to beat Andy Schleck by 39 seconds but has not raced since.

Contador has been suspended since September 30, the day the UCI announced his failed test, and claimed he had been the victim of contaminated meat.  

“At the end of a long and meticulous enquiry entrusted to highly qualified, WADA-accredited experts, and considering all the information currently in its possession, the UCI has concluded that disciplinary proceedings should be opened against Alberto Contador,” read a UCI statement.

“The UCI has today sent its request to the Spanish Federation that has competence in this regard.

“It is now the responsibility of this federation to determine whether Alberto Contador has breached the UCI Anti-Doping Rules.

“In the meantime, until the end of the proceedings and despite his provisional suspension, Alberto Contador still benefits from a presumption of innocence.” 

And Contador’s press officer, Jacinto Vidarte, has promised the rider will fully co-operate with the disciplinary proceedings.

“[It is] normal and what we expected,” said Vidarte, who added the rider’s representative will “submit all documents which show that the Contador case was a clear case of food contamination.”