Froome cleared to race in Tour
Briton calls exoneration ‘important moment’ for cycling
Chris Froome is free to race in this year’s Tour de France, which starts Saturday, after cycling’s world governing body cleared the four-time winner of any wrongdoing over his positive test for an asthma drug. Froome, 33, had tested positive for excessive levels of Salbutamol following a urine sample at September’s Vuelta a Espana.
“On 28 June 2018, World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] informed the UCI [International Cycling Union] that it would accept, based on the specific facts of the case, that Mr Froome’s sample results do not constitute an Adverse Analytical Finding,” the governing body said in a statement on Monday.
“In light of WADA’s unparalleled access to information and authorship of the Salbutamol regime, the UCI has decided, based on WADA’s position, to close the proceedings against Mr Froome.”
In a release of its own, WADA said it accepted the UCI’s decision and it would not appeal the ruling which they believed to be “the right and fair outcome for what was a very complex case.”
Salbutamol is a common asthma medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. Some have argued that it offers performance-enhancing benefits, however medical studies have shown that to be a debatable claim.
The Briton had always denied any wrongdoing and has now been cleared to race in this year’s Tour de France by the organizers, who had tried to prevent the rider from competing while under investigation.
“We started a procedure three weeks ago claiming that Chris Froome taking part in the Tour de France would damage the reputation of the race. But now that the UCI has cleared him, there’s no reason for us to prevent him from participating in the race,” Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme told Reuters.
“Obviously the rules need to be changed. When there is an adverse analytical finding, a rider should be provisionally suspended.”
Froome welcomed the news which means he can attempt to win a record-equaling fifth Tour when the race gets underway in Noirmoutier.
“I am very pleased that the UCI has exonerated me. While this decision is obviously a big deal for me and the team, it’s also an important moment for cycling,” Froome said in a statement. “I have always taken my leadership position very seriously and I always do things the right way. I meant it when I said that I would never dishonor a winner’s jersey and that my results would stand the test of time.