Tour de France organisers, Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), have banned Team Sky’s Chris Froome from taking part in this year’s Grand Tour, starting on July 7, French newspaper Le Monde reported today.
Tour de France organisers, Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), have banned Team Sky’s Chris Froome from taking part in this year’s Grand Tour. Photo: Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse
Froome, who just recently won the Giro d’Italia, is expected to fight the ban, according to the report.
The Briton has been under a cloud of speculation since he was found to have twice the permissable amount of asthma medication Salbutamol during last year’s Vuelta a Espana, which he subsequently won.
ASO refused to provide comment, although the Agence France-Presse has reportedly had confirmation of evidence that backs their view that Froome should not be allowed to race.
According to Cyclingnews.com, Team Sky responded to the report saying they are “confident that Chris will be riding the Tour as we know he has done nothing wrong”.
While the Kenyan-born and South African-schooled rider awaits the result into the Salbutamol case, he is technically still allowed to take part.
A decision on ASO’s attempt to block Froome from taking part is expected to be made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee on Tuesday, Le Monde said. Their ruling is due on Wednesday.
Team Sky have yet to announce their eight-man team. Froome won the Tour last year and he became the first rider since Bernard Hinault in 1983 to win three Grand Tours in a row after claiming the Giro title in May.
