'I broke no rules' says Froome after 'adverse' drugs test result
14 Dec 2017 5:49 PM GMT
Paris: Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome says he has not broken any rules after returning an "adverse" drugs test result during his victory at this year's Vuelta a Espana.
Froome had twice the permissible amount of asthma medication Salbutamol in his system during the Grand Tour race which he won in September, the UCI and his team revealed on Thursday.
"I understand this comes as a big shock to people," Froome said in an interview with the BBC published on Wednesday.
"I certainly haven't broken any rules here."
Cycling's governing body UCI said an anti-doping test on September 7 showed more than the allowable level of Salbutamol which can be taken without needing a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
The 32-year-old Froome told the BBC he simply upped his dosage on the advice of the team doctor after his asthma symptoms got worse.
"I have been a professional cyclist now, treating my symptoms and racing with asthma, for 10 years," said Froome.
"I know what those rules are, I know what those limits are and I have never been over those limits."
The UCI has asked Froome to provide more information but in line with World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines has not suspended him.
"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." He added the UCI was "absolutely right" to scrutinise the test results.
Next Story
