Froome in abnormal drugs test
British road cyclist Chris Froome returned an abnormal drugs test result during his victory in this year’s Spanish Vuelta, his Sky team and the governing body UCI confirmed yesterday.
Froome’s samples showed a high level of the asthma drug salbutamol in a test taken on September 7, following Stage 18 of the Vuelta, Sky said in response to a report published by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and the French paper Le Monde.
“The analysis of the B sample has confirmed the results of the rider’s A sample and the proceedings are being conducted in line with the UCI AntiDoping Rules,” the UCI said in a statement.
Salbutamol was in Froome’s urine sample at a concentration of 2,000 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml), twice the World Anti-Doping Agency threshold of 1000ng/ml.
Sky said that the adverse finding “does not mean that any rule has been broken”.
Froome has had asthma since childhood and Sky said he took increased medication, within the permitted amount, in the days running up to the test.
The 32-year-old made history in September when he became the first rider to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same year since Bernard Hinault did so in 1978.
The four-time Tour de France winner is trying to challenge the findings, according to the British paper. If he is not successful, he could forfeit his Vuelta title and face a ban.
“It is well known that I have asthma and I know exactly what the rules are,” Froome said in a statement.
“I take my leadership position in my sport very seriously. The UCI is absolutely right to examine test results and, together with the team, I will provide whatever information it requires.”