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Chris Froome: "I haven't broken any rules"

Tour de France and Vuelta champion responds after yesterday's news of adverse analytical finding...

Chris Froome insists he has not “broken any rules” in response to yesterday’s revelation that he had twice the permitted limit of the anti-asthma drug Salbutamol when tested at the Vuelta in September.

The Team Sky rider won the race, becoming just the third rider to have won the Spanish Grand Tour and the Tour de France in the same year, and the first since the Vuelta moved to its current late-season slot.

Speaking to the BBC, Froome said: "I understand this comes as a big shock to people. I certainly haven't broken any rules here."

Yesterday, the Guardian and French newspaper Le Monde revealed that the 32-year-old had returned an adverse analytical finding after he was tested on Stage 18 of the Vuelta.

> Chris Froome faces ban and losing Vuelta title after failed drugs test

Statements from Team Sky and the UCI following publication of the newspapers’ articles confirmed the result of the test, taken on 7 September.

Froome’s A and B samples both showed that he had 2,000 nanograms per millilitre of Salbutamol in his urine, double the level permitted under World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

The drug is not banned outright, but with the test returning a result beyond the levels that are allowed, Froome now has to prove somehow that he kept to permitted dosage and explain why the reading was so high.

Should he fail to satisfy the authorities, it is likely that he will be stripped of his Vuelta title and receive a ban.

Froome told the BBC: "I can understand a lot of people's reactions, especially given the history of the sport. This is not a positive test.

"The sport is coming from a very dark background and I have tried to do everything through my career to show that the sport has turned around."

He continued: "I have been a professional cyclist now, treating my symptoms and racing with asthma, for 10 years.

"I know what those rules are, I know what those limits are and I have never been over those limits.

"I have got a very clear routine when I use my inhaler and how many times. I have given all that information to the UCI to help get to the bottom of it."

In a statement released by Team Sky yesterday, Froome said that his dosage of the drug, which he takes via an inhaler, was increased on the advice of a team doctor in the days before the test that gave rise to his adverse analytical finding.

He told the BBC that during the race, he said to journalists that he was in a good condition because he didn’t want his rivals to know he was struggling,

"I am racing against guys who are looking for any kind of weakness," he said.

"I am not going to admit through a Grand Tour that 'yes. I am suffering with something', because the next day my rivals will come out absolutely swinging."

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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41 comments

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
1 like

That's the offical line from Sky.  I did laugh when I read it!

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes

If that's the excuse then he's a bloody idiot

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
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Alan - we have our answer.  Frrome took numerous puffs before the post stage interview so that he wasn't coughing during it.  In turn, this took him over the limit.

Honestly, if anybody buys that then I'm the pope.

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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Indeed Rapha but they made a few Vuelta errors, he had the day when he bonked (day before / after). It appears he was on the limit and trying not to show it. It's not necessarily linear either although there is advice or a limit on what you should ingest, the test is on what's in the urine so the whole physiological mix comes into it. This isn't me necessarily defending him but as per other threads, some have been banned for being over and some let off even more over. So what's the excuses/reasoning that achieves this.

Jackson I take your point, pick up the jersey, bravado etc. It's more the Giro announcement that they didn't particularly need to do at this time. Again, doesn't mean too much but I'd keep my head down, though you could argue it's a big bluff...

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Jackson | 6 years ago
1 like

Let's revisit some cases of "seeming confident":
Lance sued the Sunday Times successfully for £1m
Floyd crowdfunded $600k for his legal defense from 1500 regular people
Tyler Hamilton got a team of doctors to say he had a twin brother who he absorbed in the womb, resulting in an explanation for why he was caught with two types of blood in him

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
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Yes, all dopers appear to be confident of innocence once caught.  Floyd Landis is a great example!

Dehydrated riders don't ride in the way that Froome was and it's a bit hard to believe with Sky's exceptional nutrional plans and forethought.  Although; it can happen as we all know.

Increased doseage?  Likely but by what means.  To double the limit allowed by just an inhaler would mean fucking monster amounts of it coming from said dispenser.  Pills have been touted as the answer and I would like to see how this pans out.  A masking agent has also been mentioned but not confirmed.

I kind of agree with your last statement but again, let's look at the stupidity of Landis as an example.  There was another example of this that sprung to mind but I've bloody forgotten it!

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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Hmmmm. I would suggest a combination of things, probably an increased dose, dehydration, other medication etc. It's going to be quite difficult for him to prove he's not done anything wrong. On the other hand, they seem amazingly confident.

 

It just seems somewhat amazing (or amazingly stupid) that knowing they would be tested that they would blatantly cheat.

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Rapha Nadal | 6 years ago
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What do YOU think the reason for it is?

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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Watched as many of the Tour and Vuelta stages as days off work allowed and then highlights, didn't see it once. This clearly doesn't mean he doesn't do it as he says he does, just making the point.

 

I am attracted to you like you are to a Sky/Wiggins/Froome story. As said, I would like the evidence to tell us that there is a clear and obvious reason for it, preferrably not one that proves he's a cheat. I will not jump to the conclusion that he's a cheat simply due to some kind of sad crusade... 

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rjfrussell | 6 years ago
1 like

“The presence in urine of salbutamol in excess of 1000 ng/mL or formoterol in excess of 40 ng/mL is presumed not to be an intended therapeutic use of the substance and will be considered as an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) unless the Athlete proves, through a controlled pharmacokinetic study, that the abnormal result was the consequence of the use of the therapeutic dose (by inhalation) up to the maximum dose indicated above.”

 

Burden of proof on the athlete-  once the level is too high, guilty unless proven innocent.  Going to be difficult for him.

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Leviathan | 6 years ago
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Hey it was subtle, remember Trump's Birther movement? Alan you do know that LA raise millions and people still say he was pivotal to their fight against cancer. "Lance/A Helmet* saved my life" etc. Being a charitable figure doesn't really absolve you of your sins.

*Delete as appropriate.

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alansmurphy replied to Leviathan | 6 years ago
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Leviathan wrote:

Hey it was subtle, remember Trump's Birther movement? Alan you do know that LA raise millions and people still say he was pivotal to their fight against cancer. "Lance/A Helmet* saved my life" etc. Being a charitable figure doesn't really absolve you of your sins.

*Delete as appropriate.

 

Indeed, he used the charity quite well as a form of defence but the money and awareness raised was a massive help. Although you can despise him even more based on his moral compass he will have helped save lives...

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
2 likes

I really don't get the picture you've posted.

It's already interesting as I'm intrigued by what will have caused the reading, why Sky are so confident, the science behind it all.

The comment you are replying to is simply in reply to Leviathan's none too subtle "he's not really British" jibe but documentaries on Chris suggest he's done a lot for his 'native' land. I suppose that is one comparison you can draw as Armstrong's charity work was a plus (though used massively cynically).

What I don't understand is people's huge desire to simply want to knock the top athletes in a sport I presume you enjoy. I find that quite sad actually.

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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It will indeed. He is a hero there and supports a hell of a lot of charities over there. It would be a shame if one of their greatest ambassadors reputations was put into doubt. A fine point you raise.

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Jackson replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
3 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

He is a hero there and supports a hell of a lot of charities over there. It would be a shame if one of their greatest ambassadors reputations was put into doubt.

This is going to be an interesting time for you mate

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Leviathan | 6 years ago
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If Froome can't explain the results then it is a great disappointment, a sad day for Kenyan/Monegasque sport.

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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Despite me liking Froome and Sky I am quite objective about all of this (unlike some strange folk on here) and I agree Don.

Not sure I've ever seen Froome take it let alone in an emergency situation. This doesn't mean he shouldn't use as required and usually prevention is better than cure; but this tweet really doesn't hold much credence!

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don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
2 likes

"Chris Froome‏Verified account @chrisfroome

It’s sad seeing the misconceptions that are out there about athletes & salbutamol use. My hope is that this doesn’t prevent asthmatic athletes from using their inhalers in emergency situations for fear of being judged. It is not something to be ashamed of @asthmauk #asthma"

Staring to emotionally blackmail, well, everyone. It's not his fault and please leave him alone!!

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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And given their confidence you'd presume they can do so...

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ErnieC | 6 years ago
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Actually Chris, you have broken a rule. By design or not, the rule has been broken.

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Twowheelsaregreat | 6 years ago
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Bloody nora it's Lance Armstrong Jr!!!

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fukawitribe | 6 years ago
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Some interesting, dare I say measured, bits and bobs here...

http://sportsscientists.com/2017/12/brief-thoughts-froomes-salbutamol-re...

 

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alansmurphy replied to fukawitribe | 6 years ago
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fukawitribe wrote:

Some interesting, dare I say measured, bits and bobs here...

http://sportsscientists.com/2017/12/brief-thoughts-froomes-salbutamol-re...

 

Some of it was very interesting, he appeared to be drinking when writing and go on an anti British rant at the end though  1

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davel replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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alansmurphy wrote:
fukawitribe wrote:

Some interesting, dare I say measured, bits and bobs here...

http://sportsscientists.com/2017/12/brief-thoughts-froomes-salbutamol-re...

 

Some of it was very interesting, he appeared to be drinking when writing and go on an anti British rant at the end though  1

Ross Tucker tends to be on the fringes of objectivity. He wasn't convinced by Froome's published power data either.

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fukawitribe replied to davel | 6 years ago
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davel wrote:
alansmurphy wrote:
fukawitribe wrote:

Some interesting, dare I say measured, bits and bobs here...

http://sportsscientists.com/2017/12/brief-thoughts-froomes-salbutamol-re...

 

Some of it was very interesting, he appeared to be drinking when writing and go on an anti British rant at the end though  1

Ross Tucker tends to be on the fringes of objectivity. He wasn't convinced by Froome's published power data either.

I believe he begrudgingly accepted things after a while.

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
1 like

Thanks Kilo! Interesting, I agree on the slopes but he admitted feeding badly on the stage, I suppose this could suggest there was more going on.

Other than that it's great to know the plasterer, Jackson, Dr and Rapha will be off their bike tonight as saddles plus erection equals uncomfortable...

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Rapha Nadal replied to alansmurphy | 6 years ago
0 likes

alansmurphy wrote:

Thanks Kilo! Interesting, I agree on the slopes but he admitted feeding badly on the stage, I suppose this could suggest there was more going on. Other than that it's great to know the plasterer, Jackson, Dr and Rapha will be off their bike tonight as saddles plus erection equals uncomfortable...

As I said before; it's endearing that I seem to be at the forefront of your mind and you are right that I won't be riding tonight as it's the work Xmas do.

However, A test failed, B test failed, twice over the acceptable limit, hiring a lawyer who seems to be pretty good at getting suspicious athletes off the hook across a number of sports...

Not looking good, is it?  Perhaps the lawyer is on a retainer with Sky as he did some good work for the Henao vs UCI case a while back.

As for your later comments on never seeing Froome have a puff on his puffer; divert youer eyes from your wipe clean photo of him and have a look.  There's plenty out there of him tooting away whilst he's in the midst of the peloton.   

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Jackson | 6 years ago
1 like

He's right. It's only performance enhancing if you're Italian.

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ChickenWing | 6 years ago
0 likes

I  wonder what... To early to tell...

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turboprannet | 6 years ago
1 like

P.S. This is interesting. Who had Bilharzia again? Was it Chris? Worm may turn the Asthma tide

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