|
Team Sky's Chris Froome insists the UCI are "absolutely right to examine test results" after cycling's world governing body confirmed the presence of double the allowed amount of the asthma medication Salbutamol in his system following a urine test at this year's Vuelta a Espana. The UCI, who disclosed the information to Froome on Sep. 20, issued a statement early on Wednesday stating that the Tour de France and Vuelta double winner's B sample confirmed the results of 2,000 nanograms per millilitre in his system. WADA guidelines state the presence of salbutamol in excess of 1000 ng/mL in an athlete's urine "is presumed not to be an intended therapeutic use of the substance and will be considered as an adverse analytical finding 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". Team Sky have said that Froome experienced "acute asthma symptoms" in the final week of the Vuelta and on the advice of the team doctor he increased his dosage of Salbutamol, which they say was "still within the permissible doses". "It is well known that I have asthma and I know exactly what the rules are," Froome said. "I use an inhaler to manage my symptoms (always within the permissible limits) and I know for sure that I will be tested every day I wear the race leader's jersey. "My asthma got worse at the Vuelta so I followed the team doctor's advice to increase my Salbutamol dosage. As always, I took the greatest care to ensure that I did not use more than the permissible dose. "I take my leadership position in my sport very seriously. The UCI is absolutely right to examine test results and, together with the team, I will provide whatever information it requires." The UCI added that the presence of Salbutamol in a sample "does not result in the imposition of such mandatory provisional suspension against the rider" as it looks to receive further information from Team Sky. Froome followed up the Team Sky statement with a social media post adding that he was "confident that we will get to the bottom of this".
|
