Will Froome use the Salt Tab Defense?

Rash · December 2017

Should be interesting to see what happens based on who he is and the drug involved. At least they aren't denying knowledge of use this time. Salt tab defense is unlikely.

Chris Froome Returns Adverse Finding

Matt · December 2017

Alessandro Petacchi : 1360ng/ml banned 1 year
Diego Ulissi : 1900ng/ml banned 9 months

Froome : 2000ng

wchevron · December 2017

I bet he gets off with a warning.

Rash · December 2017

I don't have a dog in the fight or a full understanding of all the sciency stuff (considering all information is not public I question anyone who claims to), but the thing I don't get, assuming I am understanding what is in fact out there, is why that one day? He is taking a medication that is permitted without a TUE. He discloses he is taking it and even that he is upping his dosage. He is tested likely every day of the Vuelta (at least every day he is leading) and he is popped on only one day as being out of the limits. Seems to indicate a mistake in my mind more so than a deliberate attempt to illegally improve performance.

I am of course accepting the fact the drug is allowed up to a certain level and avoiding the discussion as to whether or not it should be which seems to derail most of these discussions. It's allowed and essentially available to all riders to use.

IanL · December 2017

Mistake likely, perhaps based on him being slightly dehydrated (though I bet they keep him well hydrated) or something similar (low body fat?). But the bigger concern is why so much asthma for elite athletes. Do Sky and Nike share a doctor?

M_Ware · December 2017

Paging @Adrienne. Is asthma more prevalent in ectomorphs than endomorphs and mesomorphs? Or is it evenly distributed across all body types?

Rash · December 2017

@IanL I was avoiding that larger conversation deliberately here, however I have to say it makes me very excited for "Tour de Pharmacy II: When Asthma ATTACKS!"

"Asthma" could also be a great character for a future @TheSufferfest workout. "Better catch Billboard. And don't let Asthma take your breath away on this next climb!"

Robert Rankin · December 2017

Never saw this coming. Clearly thought he doped in someway, like I do 90% of the other riders, but surprised they outed the golden child. Thought for sure they’d bury his positive.

I like how Nibali came out and said he also has asthma (like every other cyclist somehow) but didn’t need an inhaler because of the rain in the final stages.

doyoueventribro · December 2017

Robert Rankin said:
Never saw this coming. Clearly thought he doped in someway, like I do 90% of the other riders, but surprised they outed the golden child. Thought for sure they’d bury his positive.

I like how Nibali came out and said he also has asthma (like every other cyclist somehow) but didn’t need an inhaler because of the rain in the final stages.

I didn't understand Nibali's justification for not needing an inhaler during the rainy day. Sure, pollen and allergens can effect asthma symptoms but they two don't correlate perfectly.

I expect the next press release to be, "Froome cooperated with WADA and has since reproduced the findings from his positive test after stage 18 of la vuelta. As such WADA declares this as acceptable evidence to not proceed with any further sanctions against Chris Froome."

Team Sky: Publically fires doctor
Chris Froome: "It's no secret that I have asthma and I will be more diligent in the future regarding my own personal health and dosages of any medications I am taking"

Rash · December 2017

That statement by Nibali was actually retracted from the original story - not sure if it was just him thinking out loud or him not wanting to get tangled in the finger pointing, but it must have been off the record. (also recalled he used to ride for Astana - glass houses and all).

Rash · December 2017

@doyoueventribro I think you may be right on the outcome though. Froome must be somewhat confident in his chances with all the hoopla surrounding his Giro attempt - all of that coming long after he and the team were notified of the adverse result.

Robert Rankin · December 2017

The Nibali comment is still here. I don't get the correlation either, I'd assume rain would make it worse. Although I seriously doubt their "asthma" as well. Would a couple puffs of an inhaler before a race help for say 3 hours? Asking for a friend

Rash · December 2017

@Robert Rankin That is very odd. When I read it this morning (same source) there was a footnote indicating those statements had been retracted. The footnote is gone, however now there is an article on Velonews advising of Nibali's post stating the report of what he said was inaccurate and including his version of his statements.

If only the reporting in the cycling world was as top notch as that in triathlon!

GasBomb · December 2017

M_Ware said:
Paging @Adrienne. Is asthma more prevalent in ectomorphs than endomorphs and mesomorphs? Or is it evenly distributed across all body types?

Asthma is apparently more prevalent in drug cheats at elite levels of endurance sport.

Robert Rankin · December 2017

GasBomb said:

M_Ware said:
Paging @Adrienne. Is asthma more prevalent in ectomorphs than endomorphs and mesomorphs? Or is it evenly distributed across all body types?
Asthma is apparently more prevalent in drug cheats at elite levels of endurance sport.

May have something to do with the medication raising their VO2max, or so I’m told. I feel like I may be asthmatic

Martin · December 2017

I'm just gonna leave this here, because it's perfectly normal for a guy to close this kind of gap on a charging peloton...

Jennifer Post · December 2017

I fixed it for you. @Martin

It's normal for a guy to close this kind of gap on a charging peloton...with a motor.

Robert Rankin · December 2017

Convenient timing on needing the inhaler. Out of curiosity does anyone know what 1000 ng is exactly? How many times would one have to hit the inhaler to go over?

Rash · December 2017

The Secret Pro's take on it.

M_Ware · December 2017

Also discussed on the podcast.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cyclingtips-podcast/id1117221239?mt=2

Struang · December 2017

Matt · December 2017

NY Times: "Chris Froome Tests Positive, and Cycling History Repeats Itself"

also

THREAD
Yesterday morning, news broke that Chris Froome had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding of Salbutamol in a sample taken during the Vuelta on 7 September. Many have commented on this, and often facts have been misstated or misinterpreted. I shall try to correct those. 1/
— Lukas Knöfler (@lukascph) December 14, 2017

Rash · December 2017

Two scenarios I hope play out just to watch everyone's head and keyboards explode:

1) The hearing is held immediately after the Giro. He is given an immediate suspension that ends the week prior the Tour that has no retroactive effects (he holds on to the Vuelta win); or
2) Froome's lawyers successfully delay the hearing until after the Tour where he is suspended for the off season with no retroactive effect (he keeps the Vuelta and potentially the Giro and Tour).

I am going to start making popcorn now to make sure I have enough ready if either happens!

Craig_D · December 2017

I think you're gonna need the extra large bag

https://goo.gl/images/GO6K2B

M_Ware · December 2017

And here is what Oliver Holt of the Daily News has to say:
"Hopefully Froome isn't as stupid and cynical as he sounds" http://dailym.ai/2AGwd6u

And William Fotheringham over at The Guardian: "Chris Froome buried under Team Sky’s cumulative baggage of allegations" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/dec/16/chris-froome-buried--under-team-sky-baggage-credicility-cycling?CMP=share_btn_tw