Remember when the argument against David Lappartient’s candidacy for UCI president was his too cosy relationship with Tour de France organizers A.S.O.?
Well, relax folks, you don’t have to worry about that issue anymore. A single day after A.S.O. took the bold decision to try to bar Froome from starting Le Tour because of his unresolved salbutamol debacle, the UCI shocked everyone by saying they’re dropping the case against Froome.
You’d think that Tour boss Christian Prudhomme would be livid — thanks for letting us know UCI, thanks for the heads up. Appreciate you throwing our entire organization under the bus.
In-depth legal analysis: what a messed up sport.
This is a sport that actually seems to be going backwards in the fight against doping. If I’m retired Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, I want back my five stage victories from the 2007 Giro d’Italia that were stripped for a smaller amount of salbutamol than Froome. I want them back tomorrow morning along with all that prize money.
If I’m Diego Ulissi, I’m pretty disgusted that I received a nine month ban in 2014 for salbutamol, again for a smaller amount that Froome. What did I do wrong that Froome did right? How about nine months of salary back?
And if I’m Alberto Contador, I’d demand the UCI now return my 2010 Tour de France title and 2011 Giro d’Italia crown. They were stripped (and he was banned for two years) for a positive test for clenbuterol. Just like salbutamol, it’s an asthma medication and they’re both described as an “β2-adrenergic agonist.”
That’s not going to happen because the UCI and WADA are clown shows. You can be sure that’s exactly what the Tour’s Christian Prudhomme is thinking.
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