Alberto Contador's doping case

Astana team rider and leader's yellow jersey Alberto Contador of Spain (R) is congratulated by Saxo Bank team rider Andy Schleck of Luxembourg on the podium in Paris after the final 20th stage of the 97th Tour de France cycling race between Longjumeau and Paris in this July 25, 2010 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Following is a chronology of the Contador case:

2010

July 21: Contador undergoes a doping test on the Tour de France's second rest day in Pau

July 25: The Spaniard wins the Tour for the third time with a 39-second advantage over Luxembourg's Andy Schleck

Aug 3: Contador signs a two-year contract with Saxo Bank team

Aug 23: The Cologne laboratory hands over to the International Cycling Union (UCI) a positive result for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol in Contador's A sample

Aug 24: Contador is provisionally suspended by the UCI

Aug. 26: Contador asks for his B sample to be tested

Sept 8: B sample is also positive for clenbuterol. The UCI later said a 'very small concentration' of clenbuterol was found in Contador's urine sample

Sept 30: Contador reveals that he has failed a dope test, with the UCI confirming it a few hours later. The Spaniard blames the failed test on contaminated meat

2011

Jan 26: The Spanish federation (RFEC) proposes a one-year ban for Contador

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador speaks during a news conference in his hometown of Pinto, near Madrid, in this file picture taken Sept 30, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Feb 15: The RFEC clears Contador of any wrongdoing

Feb 16: Contador starts his season at the Tour of Algarve in Portugal

March 24: The UCI appeal to the CAS against the RFEC's decision to clear Contador

March 29: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) also appeals to the CAS

May 20: The CAS say the case will be heard from June 6-8

May 26: The hearing is postponed after a request by Contador's defence team

May 29: Contador wins the Giro d'Italia for the second time

May 31: The CAS say its hearing will be held from Aug 1-3, meaning that Contador is free to ride in the Tour de France

June 30: Contador is booed by the French crowd at the team's presentation before the start of the Tour

July 24: Contador finishes fifth overall in the Tour after apparently using up too much energy in his Giro triumph

July 26: The hearing is again postponed at WADA's request

Nov 21-24: Contador case is heard by the CAS arbitration panel in Lausanne. CAS say they will need six to eight weeks to reach a verdict.

2012

Jan 16: CAS say they will not give a verdict before the week of Jan 30 following allegations of bias in the arbitration panel.

Feb 6: Contador is given a two-year ban, backdated to Jan 25 2011. It also covers the five months 19 days he spent under provisional suspension, meaning he is excluded from cycling until Aug 5 2012.