The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in an official statement that the Salbutamol is not really a major issue in the cycling world and its abuse does not interfere in one’s cycling performance.
Chris Froome has been under investigation for salbutamol abuse since September 2017 after returning a sample of his urine that contained twice the allowed amount of this asthma drug during last season’s Vuelta a Espana where he won the title.
Four-time Tour de France winner was cleared of any wrongdoing last Monday allowing him to compete on Saturday’s Tour de France, which is currently sending riders to sixth stage, with his head high despite of many thinking that he should have not competed in any cycling event while he was still under investigation.
The right to participate
However, both Team Sky and Froome used the right to become part of the cycling events. Froome won Giro d’Italia last month and is now trying to grab his fifth Tour de France title and complete for the second time the Tour-Giro double.
WADA released a statement a day ago saying that “each case is assessed on its own merits and this decision changes nothing about the test or the regime.”
“At present, there is no evidence that a change to the threshold or decision limit for salbutamol is required. WADA has noted some public comments questioning the salbutamol threshold and how it was determined,” the statement continued.
“It should be pointed out that studies conducted over the past 10 years – both WADA-funded and independent – have reinforced the legitimacy of the current threshold.”
Since salbutamol is a specified substance and not a banned one, the rules allow the riders to protect themselves and rather than automatically getting an anti-doping charge and stopped from becoming part of the cycling events.
“In the Froome case, the test was applied the same as for any other athlete by looking at the unique physiological and circumstantial details that could be clearly determined,” WADA added.
