The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) has decided to suspend Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Team Saxo Bank-SunGard) for one year over his failed doping test in the 2010 race, El Pais reported on Wednesday.

The preliminary decision by the competition committee was communicated to Contador at midday local time and the Spaniard has 10 days to appeal before a final decision is made, said the newspaper without identifying the source of its information.

The committee also decided to strip Contador of the 2010 Tour title, added El Pais.

Contador's spokesman and the RFEC could not immediately be reached for comment.

A spokesman for cycling's world governing body (UCI) was unable to confirm the RFEC decision and said his organisation would be in touch with the Spanish federation on Thursday.

Contador, who has been provisionally suspended since August, won the Tour last year for a third time but it later emerged he had tested positive for the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol during the race.

He has denied deliberate wrongdoing, saying the failed test was due to contaminated meat.

Contador may also be able to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.