The three-time Tour de France winner said contaminated meat caused his positive doping test for a "very small concentration" of the banned substance clenbuterol. It was found in his urine sample on July 21 at the Tour, according to the International Cycling Union, the sport’s governing body.

"The idea of anyone questioning my Tour victory does not worry me," the Spanish cyclist said.

Contador said the beef was brought across the border from Spain to France by a Spanish cycling organizer, Jose Luis Lopez Cerron, at the request of the team’s chef.

Clenbuterol is sometimes given to cows, pigs and other animals to increase their growth rate.