Geraint Thomas on Select Committee Team Sky allegations: 'I never experienced anything like that'
Geraint Thomas says that his experience with Team Sky does not match the allegations made in a UK parliament report, which said that the team 'crossed an ethical line' with regards to corticosteroid use


Geraint Thomas says that his view of Team Sky is different than the unethical one painted by UK parliament's Select Committee report published on Monday.
Thomas has ridden for the team since its inception in 2010 and would have had a chance to see if Sky "crossed an ethical line" with TUE medical certificates or other practices.
"I haven't read it, but I've read what people have said the main points are," Thomas told Cycling Weekly.
"Yeah, all I can speak of is my experience, I never experienced anything like that in the team. That's all can say, really."
The 54-page 'Combatting Doping in Sport' report published by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee criticised "poor record keeping and poor medicines policies" within British Cycling and Team Sky.
>>> Team Sky ‘happy to co-operate with UCI’ in investigation over ‘cheating’ allegations
It looked into Bradley Wiggins's therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for corticosteroids ahead of big races including his 2012 Tour de France win. It said: "We believe that this powerful corticosteroid was being used to prepare Bradley Wiggins, and possibly other riders supporting him, for the Tour de France."
Team Sky gave Thomas the green light to race the Tour de France this 2018 season. He prepared over the winter in Los Angeles and began his season with the Volta ao Algarve and Tirreno-Adriatico, which kicked off on Wednesday. In his "bubble" he has not noticed too much going on with Sky and Chris Froome's salbutamol case.
"I just sort of stay in my bubble and do my thing. I was down in LA in January and that was great over there, crack on with my training and doing what I need to do. Just worry about myself," he added.
"Obviously it's not the nicest when you read people just bashing the team all the time, but at the same time, I try not to read too much anyway."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPN7XtlymFw
The reason is two-fold for Thomas in preparing for the Tour de France overall: one is that he may have a chance to fight alongside Froome for the overall, and another is that he may be the sole leader if Froome is handed a suspension.
"Yeah, you never know with what's going on with Froomey and stuff, but just to be there and in the best shape if he is there racing, to be as good as I can and try to be there and stay as high as I can in the GC as well. But we don't know until we get there."
Thomas spoke with BBC Wales about the TUEs at the centre of the Sky and Wiggins controversy and suggested sport should "get rid" of the exemption certificates.
"It would be a lot simpler," he said.
"If someone's had a TUE, it's the opposite of doping. They've had the go-ahead from the powers that be to use that substance. But this is what's bringing up the whole ethical debate, so in my eyes it would just be easier to get rid of them. It would get rid of the grey area.
"It might be unfair [to some allergy sufferers], but at the moment that's the only way I can see things becoming a bit more black and white."
Thank you for reading 5 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.
-
-
Is this Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France team? Geraint Thomas teases with eight-man training squad photo
It would not be a surprise to see the same faces in Copenhagen
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali rolls back the years with shark attack on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
37-year-old up to fifth on general classification with five stages left
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Is this Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France team? Geraint Thomas teases with eight-man training squad photo
It would not be a surprise to see the same faces in Copenhagen
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Richard Carapaz is ready for whatever the Giro d'Italia final week throws at him
Ecuadorean's confidence bolstered by the strength of his Ineos Grenadiers team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers insist they had a 'good day' on stage four of the Giro d'Italia, amid confusing tactics
The train returned, but Pavel Sivakov was dropped on Mount Etna
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Pavel Sivakov: 'I’m really happy to be back to my level'
Ineos Grenadiers rider in break at Tour of the Alps, caught with under 10km to go
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From finishing outside the time limit to winning Paris-Roubaix, Dylan van Baarle 'buzzing' after victory
Dutch rouleur claims first Paris-Roubaix for Ineos Grenadiers after 12 years of trying
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers head to Paris-Roubaix without one 'pure leader', but lots of options
Filippo Ganna is a favourite for the race, but says he doesn't know why
By Adam Becket • Published