Chris Froome case moves to the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal, report
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports LADS is finished with the dossier and the case will soon be heard by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal
The Chris Froome’s anti-doping case has moved one step closer to a verdict. The UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal is preparing to examine the evidence presented by the four-time Tour de France winner in his. Froome returned a urine sample on Stage 18 of the Vuelta a España in which the concentration of salbutamol was found to be two times higher than the allowable limit for the asthma drug.
Reports speculated that Froome was going to plead his negligence accidentally taking a higher dose than the allowable limit to avoid a harsher suspension but Froome denied such discussions were taking place. Froome’s defence could then be based on the argument that his kidneys malfunctioned. Either way, outwardly by all appearances Froome continues to assert his innocence.
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Team Sky and Froome have declined to comment about the ongoing case leaving race organizers who don’t want Froome to line-up until the case is resolved in the dark. But progress may be being made behind closed doors. La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported the dossier has been handed over by the UCI’s Legal Anti-Doping Services (LADS) to be heard by the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The usual procedure would be for LADS to make a judgement which the athlete and WADA or the national anti-doping federation would have a chance to appeal. If the Gazzetta dello Sport report is accurate, it would mean the case will be directly judged by the body that would have handled an appeal.
The report goes on to state that the reasons for the anti-doping tribunal to judge the case could be related to indecision on the LADS or by Froome’s request. The court is composed of a single judge who has the power to make a decision. Experts or further exams could also be made at the discretion of the judge who according to the report could be Danish, America, Greek or French.
The process in the case comes five-months after Froome got notice of the adverse -analytical finding in September. It represents the first step in coming to a verdict something UCI president  David Lappartient, other racers and event organizers have pleaded happens before Froome line’s up for another race.
