Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) chief Juan Carlos Castano said yesterday he was hoping for a happy resolution to disciplinary proceedings being taken against Tour de France winner Alberto Contador who failed a drugs test during this year’s race.

World cycling’s governing body UCI on Monday handed the Contador case over to his national federation RFEC, telling them to deal with the issue.

And RFEC president Castano said he hoped they would be able to clear Contador’s name.

“My hope is that this matter will be favourable to the (Spanish) sportsman,” Castano said.

“I’ve known him since he was in the junior teams and I can’t help but put myself in his position.”

Contador, 27, won his third yellow jersey in July, but it was later revealed that he tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the second rest day of the Tour de France at Pau on July 21.

Contador claims he ate contaminated meat, although his critics suggest he may have inadvertently put clenbuterol – a weight-loss and muscle-building drug – back into his system via an illicit and performance-enhancing blood transfusion.

Provisionally suspended by the UCI, Contador’s future is in doubt. If suspended for two years, he has threatened to quit the sport.