SKY FALLS IN ON FROOME
Tour winner in fight to save career after doping result raises questions
CHRIS FROOME is facing a 12-month ban after a doping sample he provided in September contained twice the permitted level of an asthma drug.
Britain’s four-time Tour de France champion and Team Sky were plunged into a fresh crisis by an adverse laboratory analysis of a test at La Vuelta.
If he cannot account for the high concentration of salbutamol in his urine on September 7, Froome could be stripped of his maiden Vuelta title and be banned from defending the Yellow Jersey on Le Tour next July.
He could also miss his attempt to win a third consecutive Grand Tour on the Giro d’Italia next May.
The adverse results were discovered after a routine test following stage 18 where Froome – who had struggled the previous day – stretched his lead over rival Vincenzo Nibali on the final climb.
Froome’s sample was found to contain 2000 nanograms of salbutamol per ml – double the World AntiDoping Agency limit.
After the controversy over Sir Bradley Wiggins’ permitted use of a banned corticosteroid before his 2012 Tour de France triumph, and a separate jiffy bag mystery he branded a “witch hunt,” the revelations about
Froome are another huge blow to Team Sky’s image. In a statement issued by Team Sky, Froome said: “It is well known that I have asthma and I know exactly what the rules are.
“I use an inhaler to manage my symptoms (always within the permissible limits) and I know for sure that I will be tested every day I wear the race leader’s jersey.
“My asthma got worse at the Vuelta so I followed the team doctor’s advice to increase my salbutamol dosage. As always, I took the greatest care to ensure I did not use more than the permissible dose.”
World governing body UCI confirmed the results of Froome’s test but under their rules he is not subject to immediate suspension. The 32-year-old will now have to undertake a series of medical tests to salvage his reputation and prove there is a scientific explanation for the anomaly.
If he cannot provide reassuring proof the high reading of salbutamol was neither a result of negligence nor deceit, cycling’s recent precedents make grim reading for him.
Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi was handed a one-year ban for excessive levels of salbutamol – his reading was 1320 ng/ mL – in 2007. One ray of hope for Froome is he submitted 21 drug tests on La Vuelta but the sample from September 7 was the only one which raised the alarm.
Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “There are complex medical and physiological issues which affect the metabolism and excretion of salbutamol. We’re committed to establishing the facts. “I have the utmost confidence that Chris followed the medical guidance in managing his asthma symptoms, staying within the permissible dose for salbutamol.”
Froome tweeted: “I am confident we will get to the bottom of this.”
TESTING TIME Four-time Tour de France winner Froome faces scrutiny over sample