Contador's Astana team have also been excluded from the Giro d'Italia

Alberto Contador has confirmed he will not leave Astana to defend his Tour de France title with another team.

Race organisers chose not to select Astana for this year's Tour because of their implication in doping scandals over the last two years.

Contador said: "I will not ride in the Tour for any other team. I hope this ends all the speculation and rumour."

Team manager Johan Bruyneel added: "I can confirm Alberto's words: he will not ride the Tour for another team."

Astana withdrew from the 2007 Tour after star rider Alexandre Vinokourov failed a doping test.

Contador went on to win with the Discovery team but the outfit subsequently disbanded after failing to find a new sponsor.

Both Contador and Bruyneel moved to an overhauled Astana team, who have made much of their new commitment to the fight against doping.