It would be easier for everyone if Team Sky suspended Froome, says UCI boss
David Lappartient says he expects Chris Froome's salbutamol case to drag on throughout 2018

Team Sky should stop Chris Froome from beginning his 2018 campaign next month, says UCI boss David Lappartient.
Froome tested for twice the legal limit of asthma drug salbutamol after the 18th stage of the Vuelta a España. The case, leaked to the media, is still being examined and could drag on for a year.
Both Chris Froome and Team Sky deny any wrongdoing. Froome immediately commented on the case when it emerged in the Guardian and Le Monde newspapers. He said that his asthma problems are "well-known" and that he and the team would "provide whatever information it requires."
"Team Sky should suspend Froome," Lappartient told newspaper Le Telegramme.
"It's not up to me to interfere. Without wishing to comment on the rider's guilt, it would be easier for everyone [for Team Sky to suspend Froome]."
Froome's urine read 2000 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml), twice the 1000 limit. He will reportedly argue a kidney problem led to the high reading.
He won the Vuelta a España overall on the heels of a fourth Tour de France title. Froome is due to start his season next month, perhaps in the Ruta del Sol stage race in spain, and compete in the Giro d'Italia in May and the Tour in July.
Already in December after the anti-doping test result emerged, the Movement for a Credible Cycling (MPCC) asked Team Sky to voluntarily suspend the 32-year-old Brit while the medical and legal experts work.
Less than half of the WorldTour teams, including Dimension Data, follow the MPCC's stricter guidelines. Those rules would see a rider benched in such cases, but Team Sky is not one of the WorldTour teams part of the group.
Frenchman Lappartient, elected in September, puts greater pressure on Team Sky's management, including boss David Brailsford, and Froome to take action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWVoFpEyh_I
"It's up to Brailsford to take his responsibilities," Lappartient added. "Quite apart from that, I think that's what the other riders want. They're fed up with the general image."
Froome's group is preparing the documents to show its case to the Cycling Anti-doping Foundation (CADF). Any outcome could be appealed to sport's high court CAS by either Froome or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which said it would act if Froome escaped sanction.
"It's going to be a judicial battle that will last a long time," added Lappartient. "This affair won't be sorted out in two minutes, it could last at least a year."
"We're in the hands of the experts. It's up to Froome to demonstrate the reasons for such a high level of salbutamol, it's up to him to prove his innocence."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Charlotte Kool wins final stage of RideLondon-Classique to seal overall victory
Kool edges out Dyget and Van der Duin in bunch sprint
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
From drawing to Giro d'Italia in 2 months: How SunGod reinvented Geraint Thomas' iconic sunglasses
The glasses, GTs, have been seen on the Welshman's face throughout his impressive Giro d'Italia run
By Adam Becket • Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia after fracturing hip on stage 11
Ineos Grenadiers rider was sitting in third before falling heavily with 69km to go on Wednesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Blow to Ineos's Giro d'Italia as Filippo Ganna forced out with Covid-19
Time-triallist and super-domestique Filippo Ganna has had to leave his home Grand Tour due to a Covid-19 positive
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart ready for Giro d'Italia after sealing Tour of the Alps victory in Italy
British rider says he will savour his second-ever overall win, before turning his attention towards the fast approaching Italian Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Just stay calm and relaxed’: Tao Geoghegan Hart one day from second-ever overall victory
Barring major disaster, the Ineos Grenadiers rider will wrap up overall victory at the Tour of the Alps in Brunico on Friday
By Tom Thewlis • Published