Chris Froome was cleared of doping by the International Cycling Union on Monday in a decision that will allow him to pursue a record-tying fifth Tour de France title later this week.
Froome had been racing under the cloud of a potential ban after a urine sample provided during his victory at the Spanish Vuelta in September showed a concentration of the asthma drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted level.
“Froome’s sample results do not constitute an AAF (Adverse Analytical Finding),” a UCI statement said, adding that it had decided “to close the proceedings against Mr. Froome.”
The Tour begins Saturday and – before the UCI statement was provided – race organizers were reportedly denying him entry.
“I have never doubted that this case would be dismissed for the simple reason that I have known throughout I did nothing wrong,” Froome said.
Froome’s use of asthma medication has been well documented, and the Kenyan-born rider has often been spotted using inhalers during races.
World Anti-Doping Agency rules state that an athlete can be cleared for excessive salbutamol use if he proves that it was due to an appropriate therapeutic dosage.
“I have suffered with asthma since childhood,” Froome said. “I know exactly what the rules are regarding my asthma medication and I only ever use my puffer to manage my symptoms within the permissible limits.
“Today’s ruling draws a line. It means we can all move on and focus on the Tour de France.”
On Sunday, Le Monde, a French newspaper, reported that Tour organizer ASO had informed Team Sky it was forbidding Froome from entering the race until the doping case had been decided.
“The UCI understands that there will be significant discussion of this decision, but wishes to reassure all those involved in or interested in cycling that its decision is based on expert opinions, WADA’s advice, and a full assessment of the facts of the case,” the UCI said. “The UCI hopes that the cycling world can now turn its focus to, and enjoy, the upcoming races on the cycling calendar.”
Tour director Christian Prudhomme told L’Equipe newspaper that Froome would be on the starting line on Saturday in the Vendee region.
“The proceedings we had started to prevent damage to the image (of the race) is void because sporting authorities are stating no foul has been made,” Prudhomme said. “So be it. He will be on the starting line because the UCI and WADA finally gave an answer.”
ASO, which also runs the Vuelta through a company called Unipublic, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Unipublic said it was “satisfied because we finally have a ruling and because we finally know who the winner of the 2017 Vuelta is.”
“It is a ruling we accept and will uphold,” Unipublic said. “Having said that, there needs to be an analysis about the length of time this case took, which was much longer than what we had hoped for.”
Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona and AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report.
