The 29-year-old Spaniard said he had lived through torment since the Court of Arbitration (CAS) had rejected his claim that his positive test for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat and stripped him of his 2010 Tour de France victory, as well as handing him the ban.

"I cannot understand the sanction that has been imposed on me," the cyclist told a news conference at a hotel in his hometown of Pinto just south of Madrid.

"I am going to continue cycling.

"I am going to continue practicing it cleanly, the way I have my entire life.

"My mood right now is not the best but I know this will make me stronger in the future.

"Anyone who reads the decision will see clearly that I did not take drugs."

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

"There have been speculations, leaks, it has been a real torment," he said.

"But the hardest thing has been to see my family, the suffering they have had, my wife, for what they have accused me of."

The Spaniard said he even gave evidence with a polygraph, or lie detector.

"That is five hours sitting in a chair answering questions like a real criminal," he said.

He was repeatedly applauded by journalsts and supporters who chanted his name at the end of the press conference.

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.

"I still don't know what my programme will be after my suspension," he said.

"I have to organise my future but that does not depend only on me.

"What I know for sure is that I want to continue to win the biggest races."

Earlier here, John Fahey, the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), had shown little sympathy for Contador.

"The simple fact is that anyone who has a prohibited substance in their system is a cheat," he said at the WADA Media Symposium.

"The only argument then comes as to what was the nature of how that prohibited substance got into the athlete's system.

"But you're a cheat, effectively, the moment you've got that substance in there.''

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