The UCI closes the case of salbutamol against Chris Froome

"If the UCI would obviously have preferred that the procedure be finalized earlier in the season, it should ensure that Mr. Froome had a fair process, as would have been the case for any other rider , and that the correct decision was Published .. Having received the position of the WADA on June 28, 2018, the UCI prepared and rendered its reasoned decision as soon as possible in the circumstances.

"L & # UCI understands that there will be an important discussion of this decision, but wishes to rebadure all those involved in or interested in cycling that its decision is based on expert advice, advice from the team, and the team. AMA, and a comprehensive badessment of the facts of the case. The UCI hopes that the world of cycling will now be able to focus on and benefit from the next races in the cycling calendar.

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During the last week of last year Vuelta a Espana, which Froome won, the Team Sky pilot returned a test of his own. urine that contained twice the authorized level of salbutamol, 2000ng / ml. Froome and Team Sky were informed of the results on September 20, but they only became public when the Guardian and Le Monde newspapers published news in December

Froome was facing a two-year ban and the loss of his Vuelta, plus his results since then, had been convicted. The Italian driver Diego Ulissi had previously found levels of 1900ng / ml and was finally suspended for nine months. As salbutamol is a specified substance, Froome was allowed to continue running and had the opportunity to explain how such levels appeared in its test results.

Following a "probationary phase," according to the UCI statement, Froome filed its explanation on June 4, along with other expert testimony. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, UCI President David Lappartient said that some 1,500 pages of expert evidence had been submitted. In that same interview, he defended the duration of the investigation and admitted that he feared that the case had not been resolved before the start of the Tour de France.

As permitted by regulation, Froome ran throughout the investigation and won the Giro d'Italia in May to become the third rider to win three consecutive Grand Tours. His participation was a subject of controversy for some riders of the peloton, Tom Dumoulin and Tim Wellens stating that he should retire from the race while the case was going on.

Former Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault even went so far as to say should hit if Froome was to run the Tour. An article in Le Monde Sunday said that the organizer of the ASO Tour had taken steps to prevent Froome from riding on the Tour using Article 28 of its own rules. The clause allows the organizer to "refuse to participate in the event or to exclude, a team or one of its members whose presence would be likely to undermine the Image or reputation of ASO or the event ". decision