Cycling: Chris Froome drug test returns "adverse analytical finding"

Team Sky British rider Chris Froome is facing lots of questions after the UCI, international cycling's governing body, revealed that his urine test following stage 18 of this year's Tour of Spain returned twice the permissible dose of the asthma medication salbutamol. Chris Froome won that stage and the Tour of Span after dropping rival Vincenzo Nibali on the final climb of the day. Both "A" and "B" samples returned the same result, but the UCI insists that "the presence of a Specified Substance such as salbutamol in a sample does not result in the imposition of such mandatory provisional suspension against the rider." So, Chris Froome is not considered to have broken anti-doping rules yet, he just has to explain why he had twice the permissible dose of salbutamol. If the UCI will accept his explanation, he should be clear of any accusation. If not, he could lose the Tour of Spain title and probably face a lengthy ban. Rival Vincenzo Nibali reacted on Twitter: "Today the cycling world received bad news. If this is confirmed, no one will be able to give me the possibility to go on the top of the podium in Madrid. I'm sure time will give us the right answers." Nibali, who also suffers from asthma, added that he didn't need to use his inhaler during that stage at the Vuelta because of rainy weather that day. "I understand this comes as a big shock to people," Chris Froome said. "I certainly haven't broken any rules here. I can understand a lot of people's reactions, especially given the history of the sport. This is not a positive test. I have been a professional cyclist now, treating my symptoms and racing with asthma, for 10 years. I know what those rules are, I know what those limits are and I have never been over those limits. I have got a very clear routine when I use my inhaler and how many times. I have given all that information to the UCI to help get to the bottom of it." Chris Froome is 2/1 at Sky Bet to win the 2018 Tour de France.