Contador doping 'not significant' - federation

MADRID - Spain's cycling federation justified its decision to seek a one-year ban for Alberto Contador, rather than the usual two years, by saying his responsibility appeared to be minimal, a Spanish newspaper said on Tuesday.

"The negligence of the cyclist was not significant ... as the simple presence of the substance in his body does not imply a violation of fair play," the federation, RFEC, said in a report, according to the sports daily Marca.

The paper said the federation used this argument to seek a one-year suspension, rather than a two-year ban that would normally be imposed for a doping violation.