The Court of Arbitration for Sport has said that it plans to announce its decision in the Alberto Contador case next Monday 6 February, following speculation this morning that it would be forthcoming today. In keeping with the seemingly interminable delays that have characterised the case ever since news broke in September 2010 that Tour de France winner Contador had tested positive for clenbuterol during that year's race, however, the CAS has not actually confirmed the date as yet – that will happen later this week.

A short announcement published on its website this lunchtime said: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) intends to publish its decision in the arbitration procedure involving the International Cycling Union (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Alberto Contador and the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) on Monday 6 February 2012. A confirmation as to the date and time of the publication of the decision will be given by the CAS at the end of this week."

The CAS heard the appeals of WADA and the UCI against last February's exoneration of Contador in November, and a decision was originally expected erlier this month. The body then said that "the publication of the final decision should now take place during the week of 31 January 2012" which we suppose is technically still the case – if, that is, you take Tuesday as the start of the week.

Last week, Contador picked up two stage wins in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina to finish second overall, 46 seconds behind winner Levi Leipheimer of Omega Pharma-Quick Step.