Spanish cycling officials have chosen to be lenient on Alberto Contador in punishing him for testing positive for a banned drug at last year’s Tour de France, proposing that he be barred for one year instead of the usual two-year sanction for a first-time offense.

Officials from the Spanish Cycling Federation notified Contador of the possible ban on Wednesday, according to a statement by his spokesman, Jacinto Vidarte. The cycling officials declined to comment on their proposal  which would include the loss of Contador’s Tour title  until their decision was final. That decision is expected the second week of February.

According to Spanish cycling federation rules, Contador, a three-time Tour winner, has 10 days to challenge the proposal and offer new evidence before the ruling is final. He has maintained his innocence.

The International Cycling Union provisionally suspended Contador last year.

Contador’s penalty is yet another blow for cycling. If barred from competition, Contador will become the second Tour winner to be stripped of the title for doping, and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg would move to first place from second. In 2006, the American Floyd Landis lost the Tour title and was barred for two years after testing positive for synthetic testosterone.