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Chris Froome case has damaged WADA, claims USADA's Travis Tygart

Man who brought down Lance Armstrong expresses concerns over what he sees as lack of transparency

Travis Tygart, who as CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) led the investigation that brought down Lance Armstrong, says the Chris Froome salbutamol case has damaged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Froome, currently third overall at the Tour de France, was cleared earlier this month in relation to his adverse analytical finding for an excessive amount of the anti-asthma drug salbutamol.

But Tygart harbours reservations about exactly why the case was closed, telling BBC Sport: "The question is whether justice was truly served or did a star get an undeserved break.

"Unfortunately it's another blow to the perceived credibility of the global anti-doping movement."

Tygart described the case as "another shard that has damaged the credibility of Wada" and said that the lack of transparency was unfair on Froome since it put him in a "worst-case scenario" where he not only has a tarnished reputation, but is also viewed as possibly benefiting from favourable treatment.

"You can never un-ring that bell and it's why more answers have to be provided so that people have confidence that he's not just a star who got away with it - that's a natural conclusion," Tygart said.

"Athletes should not be accused or it be inferred that they're not clean until proven through the established process and that didn't happen here and he deserves the benefit of that presumption of innocence."

According to Tygart, since the current rules regarding salbutamol were introduced in 2011, USADA has conducted 75,000 anti-doing controls and has not found “a single athlete” across all sports who exceeded the permitted amount.

Froome meanwhile had 19 per cent more than the legal threshold, after adjusting for dehydration.

 75,000 drug tests conducted by Usada since the salbutamol rule was updated in 2011, the organisation did not find "a single athlete" in any sport that exceeded the maximum permitted amount.

WADA however insisted that Tygart’s claims were not reflected by the facts of the case. A spokesman for the organisation told BBC Sport:  "WADA has publicly set out the reasoning for its position on the case of Mr Froome.

“Mr Tygart's assessment appears uninformed, is unconstructive, and, quite frankly is surprising given that USADA has itself previously taken the decision to close a salbutamol case where the athlete exceeded the threshold without a controlled pharmacokinetic study being conducted.

"In leading the fight against doping in sport, WADA is sometimes forced to make difficult decisions related to complex cases that people, who are not in possession of the facts, do not understand or agree with. This is one of those occasions.

“WADA is convinced that, in view of the complex and unique circumstances of Mr Froome's case, the UCI reached a correct and fair outcome," the spokesman added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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11 comments

Avatar
Exup | 6 years ago
1 like

What about the alleged UCI leak, there should be heads rolling for that.
This f-up has fuelled the neanderthal Hinault and also some dickheads at the Tdf to assault innocent cyclists and undermine the sport.

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don simon fbpe replied to Exup | 6 years ago
0 likes

Exup wrote:

What about the alleged UCI leak, there should be heads rolling for that. This f-up has fuelled the neanderthal Hinault and also some dickheads at the Tdf to assault innocent cyclists and undermine the sport.

I put the leak down to someone being pissed off with the number of AAFs that Froomedog had previously had and decided to do something about it. This is, of course, a speculation and doesn't warrant replying to.

Avatar
The_Vermonter | 6 years ago
2 likes

It could very well be that WADA and the UCI were right to take their decision however, it would be much better if both institutions did not pass-the-buck on the other for the explanation. I think Travis Tygart is well-intentioned but misguided. He makes the mistake in thinking that because there are positive tests in cycling that cycling has a unique problem with doping. I do not believe this to be true. A combination of poor rider representation (a union) and a lazy/uninformed sports media makes it appear doping is pervasive in cycling. Think back to Operación Puerto and cycling was singled-out despite Dr. Fuentes having treated footballers and worked with multiple clubs. 

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
1 like

2016 photo, went massive from been a fairly slender young women, apparently she had a breast reduction!

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
2 likes

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

2016 photo, went massive from been a fairly slender young women, apparently she had a breast reduction!

Thanks for sharing these images from your private collection  3

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to Dnnnnnn | 6 years ago
0 likes

Duncann wrote:

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

2016 photo, went massive from been a fairly slender young women, apparently she had a breast reduction!

Thanks for sharing these images from your private collection  3

C'mere and suck on mummies cock it's like the 70/80s eastern european plus Flo-Jo all over again.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes

Here's a top female tennis player in 2015, less than a year later she has bigger biceps than I do ffs, you're telling me this is natural, not a fucking murmur amongst the tennis world.

Too  many sports are getting away with it and in comparison to cycling frankly it's an utter piss take and cycling basically takes the brunt of it despite the number of athletes being caught.

Avatar
fukawitribe | 6 years ago
3 likes

My ironometer just broke...

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don simon fbpe replied to fukawitribe | 6 years ago
0 likes

...

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
1 like

USADA are no better than WADA.

They've let a number of MMA athletes basically off the hook with 'tainted supplements' and look at this guy Paulo Costa. FULL NATTY BRAH! Clean under USADA. Give me a break. 

//cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zNie22CVSjyyJQMGnl-uQ5CBgkc=/0x0:2400x1655/1200x800/filters:focal(1467x549:1851x933)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59021331/usa_today_9934568.0.jpg)

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
0 likes

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

USADA are no better than WADA.

They've let a number of MMA athletes basically off the hook with 'tainted supplements' and look at this guy Paulo Costa. FULL NATTY BRAH! Clean under USADA. Give me a break. 

//cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zNie22CVSjyyJQMGnl-uQ5CBgkc=/0x0:2400x1655/1200x800/filters:focal(1467x549:1851x933)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59021331/usa_today_9934568.0.jpg)

Sorry to break the bad news, but recent events on this very forum dictate that unless you have unequivocable facts to support that statement then people who may have a different opinion are allowed to hurl whatever levels of abuse at you that they deem fit. But the problem is worse as even if you are able to support that statement with facts, the people reserve the right to ignore these facts and still hurl abuse at you.

I know, life sucks at times...

#PrayForYorkshireWallet

 

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