An indignant two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has said that he "totally
disagreed" with his two-year doping ban and vowed to pursue his career at the highest level.

"I am going to continue cycling. I am going to continue practicing it cleanly, the way I have my entire life," he told a news conference at a hotel in his hometown of Pinto just south of Madrid yesterday.

"My mood right now is not the best but I know this will make me stronger in the future," he added in his first public comments since the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport handed down its sanction on Monday.

"I cannot understand the sanction that has been imposed on me. As for the decision, I totally disagree."

Contador, 29, said his lawyers were looking into a possible appeal, which must be lodged within 30 days.

"My lawyers are looking into all the possibilities. We will continue to fight until the end," he said, wearing a dark jacket and a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar.

Considered the most gifted racer of his generation, Contador was handed the ban following a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol.

Backdated to August 2010, when he announced the news of his positive test weeks after his third yellow jersey triumph, the ban means Contador can return to competition on August 6, 2012.

As well as ruling him out of this year's Tour de France and the Olympic Games in London, he will be stripped of several wins including his 2010 yellow jersey which will now be handed to runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

Contador's determination to carry on means he may compete at the Tour of Spain which starts on August 18, a race he won in 2008.