Chris Froome cleared.

[burnley007]

I'm just glad that this has been put to bed officially, (although I'm sure there will still be incidents with fans roadside).

Let's get on with the racing, this year's line up is excellent. Really not sure who is going to win and trying to predict the podium is almost impossible. Nibali on the cobbles. BMC/SKY on the TTT. Yates. Movistar hopefully imploding! And the French riders bottling it...

BRING IT ON!

[Leisure]

Then why was he accused in the first place. Dont know much about Asthma but I am amazed that a sufferer could win Tour De France. Thats impressive

The four-time Tour de France winner, 33, was under investigation after more than the allowed level of legal asthma drug salbutamol was found in his urine.

The World Anti-Doping Agency, which worked closely with the UCI, has accepted there was no breach and recommended the case is dropped.Froome's adverse result followed a test on 7 September, 2017, which showed more than the 1,000-nanogram per millilitre limit of salbutamol was in his system.

The substance - which Froome says is used to help manage his asthma - is permitted without the use of a therapeutic use exemption but only within certain doses.

[Chester Perry]

Xavi regularly took growth hormones.

So did Messi - the reason he joined Barca as a kid was because they agreed to pay for them and give jobs to his family

Barca have a long history of this kind of thing

Italian football in the 80's 90's and early noughties was rife with Creatine - so much so that Man Utd looked into using it to create a more level playing field but their research into the side effects put them off with Sir Alex insisting that players should not be put at so much risk

[Chester Perry]

FCBurnley you would be amazed how many cyclists are asthmatics - most say it is a result of riding on such heavily polluted roads as they develop through the junior ranks

[Caernarfon_Claret]

Then why was he accused in the first place. Dont know much about Asthma but I am amazed that a sufferer could win Tour De France. Thats impressive

For asthmatics Salbutamol makes it easier to breathe, by being able to breathe easier it puts him on to a level playing field with those who don't have asthma.

It's not a banned substance, you don't need a tue to take it and they've decided on an arbitrary threshold without a thorough understanding of how the amount you breath in and the amount in your blood relate to each other.

As more science is done it'll be easier to understand how they relate.

It would be a bit like saying you can have 2 cups of coffee containing 5 mg of caffeine but the amount in your blood mustn't excede 2.8 mg.

The amount in the blood will fluctuate depending on various factors.

Now you might have the right amount of coffee each day but levels in the blood might be.

2.4 mg
2.7 mg
1.9 mg
3.1 mg
2.4 mg
2.2 mg

That doesn't mean you've taken more than you're allowed it just means at one testing point out of six there was more in the blood than allowed.

If there is a credible reason for this then surely it is only right and fair that you don't get labelled as a no good swine.

Now in the case of illegal drugs then there is no excuse, these are the drugs that are performance enhancing.

If Froome had taken more than the allowed dose (breathed in through inhaler) then he would have had a much higher dose in his system and on more than just one occasion.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

Imagine this scenario.

You're playing tennis against a mate you are winning 4-2 and he's wheezing away after a long rally.

He takes out his ventolin spray (also known as Salbutamol) and has two puffs.

He goes on to win 8-6 in a tie-breaker.

Do you call him cheat or congratulate him for winning well?

Does it allow someone to compete or give someone an unfair advantage.

Wouldn't the person without Asthma have an unfair advantage if Salbutamol wasn't available.

Is a pacemaker life enhancing or does it just make people be able to live?

[KRBFC]

Imagine this scenario.

You're playing tennis against a mate you are winning 4-2 and he's wheezing away after a long rally.

He takes out his ventolin spray (also known as Salbutamol) and has two puffs.

He goes on to win 8-6 in a tie-breaker.

Do you call him cheat or congratulate him for winning well?

Does it allow someone to compete or give someone an unfair advantage.

Wouldn't the person without Asthma have an unfair advantage if Salbutamol wasn't available.

Is a pacemaker life enhancing or does it just make people be able to live?

‘There have been several studies, including animal models, showing that beta-2 agonists such as salbutamol can have an effect on muscle mass,’ says Olivier Rabin, senior director of science and international relationships at WADA.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

‘There have been several studies, including animal models, showing that beta-2 agonists such as salbutamol can have an effect on muscle mass,’ says Olivier Rabin, senior director of science and international relationships at WADA.

Like the growth hormones for Xavi and Messi?

Absolutely agree that Froome is as much a cheat as Xavi and Messi.

As in not at all.

Because none of them have been found guilty of cheating.

Edit -

As for science.

"The legal team representing Chris Froome is reported to have submitted a new scientific study that claims the test for Salbutamol is 'fundamentally flawed'. The UCI are unimpressed however after discovering that some of the paper’s conclusions are based on research on dogs."

Let's wait for the science to develop to a far more advanced stage than animal testing before using it, shall we.

You think Froome's a drugs cheat and I think Messi and Ronaldo are, nothing's going to convince either of us to re think.

[KRBFC]

Like the growth hormones for Xavi and Messi?

Absolutely agree that Froome is as much a cheat as Xavi and Messi.

As in not at all.

Because none of them have been found guilty of cheating.

Why are you so obsessed with Xavi and Messi on a topic about Chris Froome? Froome was found above the limit, he failed a urine test. There is no excuse for it imo, it's like drink drivers who swear innocence. At least Froome was only 19% over the limit, quite obviously it makes it all okay and acceptable, at this point what is the limit even there for if they can go unpunished for being caught over it.

[Leisure]

‘There have been several studies, including animal models, showing that beta-2 agonists such as salbutamol can have an effect on muscle mass,’

Muscle mass - have you seen just how thin CF is! I've even spotted him in one of Lowry's paintings!

[KRBFC]

Muscle mass - have you seen just how thin CF is! I've even spotted him in one of Lowry's paintings!

Argue that point with Olivier Rabin, senior director of science and international relationships at WADA.

[Leisure]

? Froome was found above the limit, he failed a urine test.

So he 'failed' 1 urine test but earlier you stated 'Still a drug cheater, relied on performance enhancing drugs his entire career'!

[Caernarfon_Claret]

Why are you so obsessed with Xavi and Messi on a topic about Chris Froome? Froome was found above the limit, he failed a urine test. There is no excuse for it imo, it's like drink drivers who swear innocence. At least Froome was only 19% over the limit, quite obviously it makes it all okay and acceptable, at this point what is the limit even there for if they can go unpunished for being caught over it.

Why are you calling someone a drugs cheat when that's not what he was charged with in the first place?

You can not see why I'd bring in footballers?

To highlight how blinkered you seem.

Footballers = Angels (included St. Pep who you seem to have forgiven for his drug cheating past - very good of you)

Cyclists with Asthma = Cheating ****.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

So he 'failed' 1 urine test but earlier you stated 'Still a drug cheater, relied on performance enhancing drugs his entire career'!

If he can forgive Pep Guardiola for his cheating. - oh wait Pep was later cleared and exonerated even though he tested positive for nandrolone.

I think we've found a hypocrite.

[KRBFC]

Why are you calling someone a drugs cheat when that's not what he was charged with in the first place?

You can not see why I'd bring in footballers?

To highlight how blinkered you seem.

Footballers = Angels (included St. Pep who you seem to have forgiven for his drug cheating past - very good of you)

Cyclists with Asthma = Cheating ****.

I don't think i've ever said anything about footballers being angels, you made that up. As for Pep, as stated once already on this thread, I don't care about his past, If he failed a drugs test for PeD's, he was a cheater. He's in a different career now where his PeD's won't give him an edge. As for cyclists being cheaters, the sport is rife with cheaters there is factual evidence to support that claim, go look at Team Sky's crooked past. That doesn't make all cyclists cheaters, just the ones who break the rules and go over the limits put in place to make the sport somewhat fair.

[KRBFC]

If he can forgive Pep Guardiola for his cheating. - oh wait Pep was later cleared and exonerated even though he tested positive for nandrolone.

I think we've found a hypocrite.

I didn't know Pep cheated in the first place to even forgive him you plank.

[Leisure]

Argue that point with Olivier Rabin, senior director of science and international relationships at WADA.

Why would I want to argue with him? I've just read what he's had to say on the subject but can't find anything saying that CF is a drugs cheat. Can you point me in right direction?

[Leisure]

I didn't know Pep cheated in the first place to even forgive him you plank.

While playing in Italy, he served a four-month ban for a positive drug test, although he was eventually cleared of wrongdoing twice on appeal in 2009 before the Courts of Justice of the Italian Football Federation and the Federal Anti-Doping Courts of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). But as you seem to infer with CF, there's no smoke without fire!

[Caernarfon_Claret]

I don't think i've ever said anything about footballers being angels, you made that up. As for Pep, as stated once already on this thread, I don't care about his past, If he failed a drugs test for PeD's, he was a cheater. He's in a different career now where his PeD's won't give him an edge. As for cyclists being cheaters, the sport is rife with cheaters there is factual evidence to support that claim, go look at Team Sky's crooked past. That doesn't make all cyclists cheaters, just the ones who break the rules and go over the limits put in place to make the sport somewhat fair.

Pep wasn't a drugs cheat - just because something is in the system doesn't make one a cheat, he was exonerated and he fought hard for that because his reputation was important to him.

Some of my posts were just mischief making and I apologise for calling you a hypocrite, that's not on.

I think you do yourself a dis-service with seeing everything in black and white, nuances are so important.

There is no doubt in my mind that Froome kept within the limits of medication - his urine sample was obviously over the limit but his explanation is enough for WADA who as you know don't back down without good reason.

It's a difficult balancing act to get right when it comes to medications used in sport, but Salbutamol is not currently a banned substance and it's use needs to be handled seperately from drugs cheating.

You might not like Chris Froome and you may think his attitude unsportsmanlike but he doesn't come under the category of drugs cheat just as an athlete who misses a drug test shouldn't be treated as a drugs cheat.

[KRBFC]

Pep wasn't a drugs cheat - just because something is in the system doesn't make one a cheat, he was exonerated and he fought hard for that because his reputation was important to him.

Some of my posts were just mischief making and I apologise for calling you a hypocrite, that's not on.

I think you do yourself a dis-service with seeing everything in black and white, nuances are so important.

There is no doubt in my mind that Froome kept within the limits of medication - his urine sample was obviously over the limit but his explanation is enough for WADA who as you know don't back down without good reason.

It's a difficult balancing act to get right when it comes to medications used in sport, but Salbutamol is not currently a banned substance and it's use needs to be handled seperately from drugs cheating.

You might not like Chris Froome and you may think his attitude unsportsmanlike but he doesn't come under the category of drugs cheat just as an athlete who misses a drug test shouldn't be treated as a drugs cheat.

Am I allowed to form my own opinion on him and Team Sky? I have a sneaking suspicion it's not all as clean as it seems and the failed urine test set off the alarm bells and really told us what most people thought all along. An honest question, were you surprised he failed the urine test?

[Caernarfon_Claret]

I didn't know Pep cheated in the first place to even forgive him you plank.

I've already apologized about the hypocrite remark, not on.

I will do so again if you like.

Pep was exonerated - He is probably the best coach in the World and he seems to be a man of great integrity although at times can get slightly passionate about things.

I wouldn't class him as a drugs cheat, just as I wouldn't class Chris Froome as a drugs cheat, different reasons for having things in their urine, one a contaminated supplement? The other due to the fluctuating levels of Salbutamol in the urine when taking the same dose.(?)

If, after further studies of Salbutamol we understand better how it works (with regard to levels in the system) we'll either be able to exonerated Froome further or reverse the decision and strip him of his victories.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

Am I allowed to form my own opinion on him and Team Sky? I have a sneaking suspicion it's not all as clean as it seems and the failed urine test set off the alarm bells and really told us what most people thought all along. An honest question, were you surprised he failed the urine test?

Yes it's fine to do so.

Please remember I've been an advocate of yours on here and I know you are a sincere individual who holds passionate views, particularly on how sport and football in particular should be played.

I can understand a suspicious view of Team Sky and their riders and we know how cheating can take years to be uncovered but that can also be true of football.

I have the same view about Barcelona and Messi and Real Madrid and Ronaldo, hopefully I'm wrong and they are clean.

Big giants who'll stop at nothing for success.

I think drugs cheating in cycling is over, I think the riders want it clean, I think that you'll get some individuals getting a backlash because they're seen as cheats when they aren't. I think Sky should join with those teams who will not race if they are taking a particular medication for the time when it could affect performance, I think Sky and Froome should show more humility. I think Froome should have withdrawn from competition until he was cleared as it wasn't fair on other cyclists.

I think football needs it's Lance Armstrong moment so that any drugs cheating can be rooted out and taken seriously.

[jdrobbo]

Fantastic news!

[Leisure]

I think Froome should have withdrawn from competition until he was cleared as it wasn't fair on other cyclists.

If he'd have agreed to not ride some people would have interpreted that as a sign that he knew he was guilty. Also, I can't see how him competing wasn't fair on other cyclists???

[Caernarfon_Claret]

If he'd have agreed to not ride some people would have interpreted that as a sign that he knew he was guilty. Also, I can't see how him competing wasn't fair on other cyclists???

I just think Froome and Sky are in it for themselves and there are some cyclists and teams that are making sacrifices for the good of cycling.

Nothing wrong with what they did, it's just they are rubbish at PR, they probably don't care.

I'm thinking from a PR perspective and it would be hard to not take part in a grand tour event.

The whole circus going on around Froome could have affected other cyclists.

As you say you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Some would always say he's guilty no matter what.

[karatekid]

"The UCI understands that there will be significant discussion of this decision, but wishes to reassure all that its decision is based on expert opinions, Wada's advice, and a full assessment of the facts of the case."

This ^^^

[karatekid]

Good luck Chris in this year's TDF. Time to join the other legends on Five Tour De France wins.

[bfcmik]

I just think Froome and Sky are in it for themselves and there are some cyclists and teams that are making sacrifices for the good of cycling.

Nothing wrong with what they did, it's just they are rubbish at PR, they probably don't care.

I'm thinking from a PR perspective and it would be hard to not take part in a grand tour event.

The whole circus going on around Froome could have affected other cyclists.

As you say you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Some would always say he's guilty no matter what.

All successful teams create envy, suspicion and vitriol from their rivals and, to an even greater extent, from the fanbase of their rivals or the country of their rivals. The successful teams, and individuals, in Formula 1, football, athletics, gymnastics, tennis, cricket, rugby etc. have all had aspersions and doubts cast at their methods. I'm sure that further understanding of the way that anti-asthmatic drugs work - both the preventers and the reliever (Ventolin/Salbutamol) will result in limits that are more varied over a period of time as levels depend very much on how long since your last inhalation.

Cycling is now one of the most tested sports around. Every stage winner is tested during a longer race. Often it is all podium finishers who get automatically tested each day. The fact that Froome passed 19/20 tests during a 23 day race says to me that the failed test was the aberration rather than the other way round

[Chester Perry]

Sky have realised they need to be more open about how their athletes operate - here is a fascinating insight that they have shared with the BBC about Froome's performance during the Giro - it is telling that the BBC have analysed it for nearly a month before releasing it - basically they could find no evidence of anything irregular other than that they believe no other team is planning and executing with such precision

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/44694122" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;