FROOME IN CLEAR FOR TOUR TILT
CHRIS FROOME celebrated “an important moment for cycling” after he was exonerated over a drug test and cleared to ride the Tour de France.
Just 24 hours after race organisers threatened to block him from starting on Saturday because of uncertainty over his case, the legal obstacles to Froome’s bid for a record-equalling fifth Yellow Jersey were removed.
A nine-month saga, following an adverse test at last year’s Vuelta in Spain, was brought to a sudden conclusion when world anti-doping body WADA intervened and instructed cycling chiefs to clear him.
After years of trying to bat away waves of suspicion and scandal – swelled by grandstanding politicians and jealous rivals – this could yet prove the moment when Team Sky arrested the tide.
Froome, 33, was facing a 12-month ban and being stripped of his Vuelta title after a urine sample provided in September was found to contain twice the permitted level of asthma medication salbutamol.
Britain’s most successful road cyclist was always adamant he had done nothing wrong, and was inherently suspicious about the isolated spike in his sample.
But just as Le Tour organisers were seeking to block Froome from taking part in this year’s race, cycling’s world governing body UCI removed the uncertainty by announcing he was in the clear.
In a statement issued through Team Sky, Froome said: “While this decision is obviously a big deal for me and the team, it’s also an important moment for cycling.”
He added: “It has been an emotional nine months, but I never doubted the case would be dismissed because I have known throughout that I had done nothing wrong.
“I have suffered from asthma since childhood, I know exactly what the rules are regarding my medication and I only use my puffer to manage my symptoms within permissible limits. Today’s ruling means we can draw a line and focus fully on the Tour de France.”
Team Sky pointed out that 20 other tests on Froome during the Vuelta had not raised concerns.
Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “We’ve always had total confidence in Chris and his integrity. We were always sure he would be exonerated.”