BERLIN – Chris Froome's case around a positive doping
test is unlikely to be settled before next month's Tour de France
where he seeks a fifth title, according to the head of the ruling
cycling body UCI, David Lappartient.
"It was always my wish that the case was decided before the tour of
Italy. Now I want it solved before the Tour. But you have to be
realistic: I don't think that will be the case," Lappartient told
Saturday's edition of French paper Le Parisien.
Froome, who won the Giro d'Italia for the first time on Sunday,
tested positive for twice the permitted concentration of the asthma
medication salbutamol in his system during last year's Spanish Vuelta
which he won.
Under UCI rules the Team Sky rider is eligible to continue competing
until the ruling body has reached a verdict. This year's Tour de
France starts on July 7.
Lappartient said the case was very complex and included a 1,500-page
scientific report. He also said that Froome, who has protested his
innocence, had enough funds to see his case through.
"The best thing would be if Froome wouldn't participate in
competitions. But he made a different decision. We respect his
rights," Lappartient said.
If found guilty, Froome could be banned for two years and lose all
his titles starting with last year's Vuelta.