News

Cyclist Chris Froome Cleared In Doping Case, Team Sky Refuses To Release Details

On Monday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) cleared British cyclist Chris Froome of doping just days before this year’s Tour de France.

Cyclist Chris Froome Absolved In Doping Case

Froome, 33, is the defending Tour de France champion, and has won the 2,069-mile race four times. Should he win his fifth title this year, he would tie a record shared by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, and Miguel Induráin. The 2018 Tour de France starts on Saturday.

The Brit had been threatened with a possible ban after he tested positive for the asthma drug salbutamol in September at the Vuelta a España. A urine sample revealed Froome had two times the legal amount, and the cyclist has denied any wrongdoing.

SLIDESHOW: 30 Best Sports Instagrams! 

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

In a surprising development, Team Sky — with whom Froome competes — said they would not be providing additional details on the doping case surrounding the cyclist.

“The Team won’t be putting out more information as it’s obviously a UCI/WADA process and it’s for them to decide what to put out and when. We don’t have access to their data and scientific studies,” a spokesperson for Team Sky told cyclingnews.com. “Chris had been out on his bike training all morning yesterday and wrongly assumed WADA would be putting out more detail when he said that to Sky News. We would of course be happy with them doing so but is ultimately for them to decide what they choose to do.”

A statement from the UCI stated the World Anti-Doping Agency had ruled that Froome’s sample did not include any violations, and thus it had decided to end its investigation into the cyclist.

According to the New York Times and several European publications, Tour de France organizers told Team Sky that Froome was prohibited from participating in the race until his doping case was decided.

SLIDESHOW: 10 Highest-Paid Athletes

Two cyclists have previously received suspensions for using salbutamol: Diego Ulissi in 2014 and Alessandro Petacchi in 2007.

In May, Froome won his first Giro d’Italia.

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Paul George Exits With Knee Injury As 76ers Fall To 2-12 In Loss To Grizzlies

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…

11 mins ago

VIDEO: Nike Pays Tribute to Rafael Nadal With 30-Foot Projection In Front of Eiffel Tower

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…

18 hours ago

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal Gets Emotional Tribute as He Retires From Tennis

https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…

18 hours ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Fencer Eli Dershwitz Explains The Art Of Fencing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…

2 days ago

Two Bears Offensive Linemen Return To Practice, Caleb Williams Desperate For Blocking

Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…

3 days ago

VIDEO: UFC Heavyweight Champion Performs Viral Trump Dance In New York

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…

4 days ago