Cycling: Saxo Bank make Contador pledge

Saxo Bank yesterday promised to stay on as title sponsors of Bjarne Riis's cycling team even if the three-times Tour de France champion Alberto Contador is banned after failing a dope test.

The Danish bank, which had been due to leave Riis's outfit at the end of the season, decided to extend its sponsorship after Contador announced he was joining the team next season from Astana.

The Spaniard failed a test for a small quantity of the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during July's Tour de France and could be banned if the International Cycling Union decide he took the substance intentionally. Contador denies doping and blamed the test result on contaminated meat.