UCI clears Chris Froome of salbutamol case
Decision comes one day after ASO tried to block Brit from Tour de France
Just one day after the ASO tried to prevent Chris Froome from racing the 105th Tour de France, the UCI has closed the salbutamol case against Sky’s Brit, exonerating him. The UCI announced on Monday that it “has considered all the relevant evidence in detail (in consultation with its own experts and experts from WADA)” and concluded that “Mr. Froome’s sample results do not constitute an AAF (adverse analytical finding)”. During the final week of last year’s Vuelta a España, which Froome won, his urine contained double the permitted level of salbutamol, 2000ng/ml.
Chris Froome, Sky and professional cycling has carried on this year under a cloud as there were questions as to whether he should be racing at all this season until the issue–leaked in early December 2017–was resolved. Did ASO’s move force UCI’s hand?
ASO dropped its effort to bar Froome from the race, but general director Christian Prudhomme was vexed by the situation.
An exasperated Prudhomme to @franceinfo: "All that fuss for this! Since December we've kept saying that we needed a quick decision. Now we get an answer today, at the last minute, as is often the case, about something that happened last September."
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) July 2, 2018
Froome was relieved.
Grateful and relieved to finally put this chapter behind me, it has been an emotional 9 months. Thank you to all of those who have supported and believed in me throughout. pic.twitter.com/OGzsg83Gjj
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 2, 2018
Some were exultant.
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) July 2, 2018
I guess it’s time to get on with being The Greatest ! https://t.co/voxIUFLOK0
— Carlton Kirby (@carltonkirby) July 2, 2018
The UCI took a lot of heat for its rules and procedures during this case, and some thought its “let’s put this unpleasantness behind us” vibe hard to swallow.
Froome cleared, zero ban. Unlike Petacchi or Ulissi.
"The UCI hopes that the cycling world can now turn its focus to, and enjoy, the upcoming races on the cycling calendar." ?????
Go home, UCI. You're drunk.#Froome pic.twitter.com/8TUxzadAwG
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) July 2, 2018
The problem with the way this whole case has been handled and now settled is that few – if any – have changed their minds about it. Especially the French spectators alongside the road. I'm at a point where I'm genuinely concerned about Froome's safety on the bike during #TDF2018.
— Mikkel Condé v2.0 (@mrconde) July 2, 2018
The whole seven month case was a mess.
No sport does shit shows like cycling.
— Race Radio (@TheRaceRadio) July 2, 2018
Ok pro cycling, you have now lost one major fan. I'll work until the end of the season or my birthday in September, then I am out of here.
— Susan Westemeyer (@WestemeyerSusan) July 2, 2018
Folks, I’ve argued for 15 years against legalizing doping. I’m not about to change now, however disillusioned I am at bought innocence. What I’m saying is that this latest nadir in anti-doping questions the very foundations of testing and that has massive, damaging implications.
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) July 2, 2018
There’s no question now about Froome’s Vuelta and 2018 Giro d’Italia wins–there are no more asterisks. The World Anti Doping Association will not appeal the UCI’s decision. Froome will now try to win his fifth Tour de France, the cloud over him having lifted, but those dimming the light over all of professional cycling not entirely dissipated.
