UCI to rule on Contador appeal before March 24

ROISSY-EN-FRANCE, France - The International Cycling Union (UCI) has until March 24 to decide whether to appeal against Alberto Contador being cleared of using drugs, president Pat McQuaid said on Saturday while unveiling a host of new anti-doping measures.

Contador tested positive for a small amount of the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during last year's Tour de France and although the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) initially banned him for a year, it exonerated him last month.

"We have to give our decision before March 24," McQuaid said, adding that the UCI received the file a few days ago.