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news
Chris Froome celebrates winning the 2013 Tour de France (picture copyright Simon Wilkinson:SWpix.com)Updated: UCI rejects claims Chris Froome given preferential treatment to use corticosteroid
A French newspaper has claimed that world cycling’s governing body, the UCI, bent anti-doping rules to provide Chris Froome with a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to permit him to take a corticosteroid during this year's Tour de Romandie, which began on 29 April. In response UCI president Brian Cookson has said that "nothing out of the ordinary occured."
Le Journal du Dimanche says that Froome was allowed to use the drug prednisoloneto treat a chill, after Team Sky doctor Alan Farrell secured authorisation from the UCI’s medical director, Mario Zorzoli, reports AFP.
Using words such as “connivance” and “complicity” in the article, the newspaper pulled no punches in claiming that Froome received favourable treatment and points out that UCI president Brian Cookson’s son, Oli, is employed by Team Sky.
It cited one expert, Dr Gerard Guillaume, who said the UCI had not followed the correct procedures in granting Froome, who went on to win the race for the second year running, the TUE.
He said: "The rules state that taking steroids by mouth is prohibited during competition and that if a cyclist displays a condition requiring such a treatment, he is clearly not fit to take part and that any request for a TUE must be considered by a group of experts."
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, applications for a TUE should be considered by a committee comprising at least three physicians, although the UCI’s own rules permit the decision in individual cases to be made by one person.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is said to be investigating the issue.
This afternoon, the UCI rejected the newspaper's claims in a strongly worded statement, saying:
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has looked into the matter regarding the grant of recent Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and confirms that nothing out of the ordinary occurred in the case of Team Sky rider Christopher Froome.
Christopher Froome’s TUE for oral use of glucocorticosteroids was granted on April 29, 2014 based on duly documented medical history and in compliance with the applicable UCI Regulations and the relevant WADA guidelines. The TUE was granted for a limited period, following the usual procedure. The process was fully transparent as it is UCI’s policy to systematically record all TUEs on ADAMS. WADA was therefore informed throughout the process.
The UCI wishes to emphasise that under the applicable rules – which are consistent with the WADA Code and the WADA TUE Standard and Guidelines – any rider with the same symptoms as Christopher Froome would have received a similar TUE.
The UCI would like to express its profound disappointment with the speculations that have been made suggesting its President could have any influence on the granting of TUEs. The UCI President and the UCI Administration have absolutely no involvement with decisions on TUEs. Insinuating that Brian Cookson’s son’s employment with Team Sky could have something to do with the decision to grant the TUE is an unfounded allegation which will be dealt with seriously.
It’s the second time this week that Froome’s use of medication has been in the spotlight. On Monday, TV coverage of the Critérium du Dauphiné showed him using an inhaler while riding Stage 2, which he won.
Quoted by AFP, he explained: "I have had an inhaler since childhood, I have exercise induced asthma. It is ok. I didn't need a TUE.
"I don’t use (the inhaler) every time I race, normally only when I have a big effort coming up.
"Given sports history, people are obviously looking for a reason. There's no reason to make a big deal out. It's completely allowed by the UCI.
"It's a bit of a surprise everyone is talking about it," he added.
The Tour de France champion lost his lead in the Dauphiné yesterday to Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador, and went into today’s final stage trailing the Spaniard by 8 seconds.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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50 comments
Who cared anything about looks or what it looks like?
We can start with tosspots on a bicycle in the first place. Not to mention Froomie's horrendous gate on a bike.
Morons everyone.
Brian Cooksons son being employed by Team Sky is slightly ridiculous. So he had his job at Team Sky because we assume he was brought up in a cycling mad family and followed his desire to work in the sport?
When Cookson senior became President what was the lad going to do? Resigning from his post at Sky, which was we assume given on merit,Not a serious option surely.
An anti-inflammatory which suppresses your immune system ?
Yes, it'll likely give you a feeling of being strong and energetic (euphoria, if you like), and lessen the pain in the thighs at high levels of exertion. Major League and NFL players are full of this stuff before they go out to play.
Mr Froome seems to have a great many illnesses for a pro athlete, which seem to require the use of otherwise banned drugs during major races. It may be technically within the rules but that is not the same as being clean.
Issue with Froomie is he's always on about dope testing other riders. Such as his recent spate of comments on out of competition testing.
Team Sky appear to have psychological issues. The way Mikel Nieve won the ultimate stage [CdD], he rolls across the line and couldn't care less.
There is more if people are interested in opening another can of worms.
Prednisolone is commonly given to those with severe cases of asthma. Steroid is the next level up for acute cases. These drugs will do more harm than good when engaged in sport. It's concievable though that extremely minute amounts of the drug are taken to derive some benefits, however marginal the benefits may be. NB. The benefits of these drungs are also very much short term.
Steroids don't induce euphoria. OMG LOL.
Thighs aren't the limiting physiological factors in this sport. More like Cardio-Vascular system OMG LOL.
I never mentioned the TUE, although the UCI press I quoted does. My point relates to the relationship in general.
Well you know debate has broken down when the response is 'OMG LOL' - (BTW, who said that thighs are the limiting physiological factors in this sport?). So, I'll leave it there for now - let's see if Sky can keep their heads down at least until the Sheffield Uni paper is released (we might all be having a LOL at that one!).
Despite all the 'expert' opinion above, WADA have now stated that all was okay; I think I'll go with that and hope that they are not in on the Team Sky/UCI/Illuminati/alien lizard conspiracy also.
I wish the French would not refer to Froome as being English. He may be British as far as Kenyan born ex-pats living in a tax exile can be but he has no claim to be English.
So shall we say Wiggins is Belgian and Dan Martin is English then?
And the Welsh can reclain Geraint Thomas... Bring it on... Typical english reaction.
Hahahaha...
Geriant Thomas is Welsh and rightly proud of it. Who would Froome ride for in the Commonwealth Games?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraint_Thomas
Let's tell the rest of the world then...
[edit] And let's see him raise y ddraig goch at the appropriate moment.
On discovering that the flags of non-participating nations would not be allowed at the Games, Thomas said: "It would be great to do a lap of honour draped in the Welsh flag if I win a gold medal, and I'm very disappointed if this rule means that would not be possible."
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraint_Thomas
On discovering that the flags of non-participating nations would not be allowed at the Games, Thomas said: "It would be great to do a lap of honour draped in the Welsh flag if I win a gold medal, and I'm very disappointed if this rule means that would not be possible."
wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraint_Thomas
Which reminds me of a couple of Grauniad articles where David Coulthard, the British driver, won Grand Prix no se que, but Scot, David Coulthard, F1 driver crashes out on lap.....
It's shocking, as I think you agree by higlighting that comment.
Out of interest, when were the Welsh asked if they wanted to be part of the commonwealth?
So it is clear that Geriant would ride for Wales,in the commonwealth games but who would Chris Froome ride for?
[[[[[ Okay, but what would you be like on your bike?
P.R.
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