Alberto Contador will find out whether he will be stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title for doping in January.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport revealed that a verdict is expected early next year following the conclusion of a four-day trial next week.
The Spaniard is due to appear at the highest court in world sports in Lausanne, Switzerland, starting next Monday to present his defense that contaminated beef caused his positive test for clenbuterol.
CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb has stated that the three-man appeal panel will require "six to eight weeks" to publish its ruling.
"It is a normal period of time for a case of this complexity," said Reeb.
If found guilty, the 28-year-old faces a ban of up to two years and losing his 2010 Tour title and 2011 Giro d'Italia victory.
