Tim Bennet.
Entirely Average Member
- Location
- S of Kendal
How do you resolve the fact he was denied victory in the Tour? do you strip Contador of his win? You can financially compensate him for his loss of earnings, but you can never compensate him for being denied the win in the Tour.
Because he wasn't eliminated from the TdF on a sporting rule infraction, he can't use the appeal system within the sport itself. Therefore what (limited?) powers they might have to address his sporting loss will never be known.
His only option is to prove he was wrongfully dismissed from the employ of his team. Then if this is found to be so, he could pursue a civil action and have to accept their powers to recompense him will be limited to a financial award. But this is a fundamental shortcoming of this system for everyone, (except obviously where pure financial loss was incurred). Amputees in industrial accidents would probably choose to have their arm back than a cash pay out.
But pursuing this through the courts would establish his innocence and go some way to allowing him to reestablish his career. The alternative is to appear in minor town centre criteriums where the spectacle is more freak show than sporting contest.
But before we feel sorry for how hard done he has been, let's see some evidence that this is the case.