Why Chris Froome can run the Turn of Italy after testing positive for doping in 2017?

On Septembre 7, 2017, in stage 18 of "Vuelta a España", Chris Froome exceeded the allowed limit of Ventolín, equivalent to doping by sulbatamol, which was made public in december. Chris Froome suffers from asthma, so he needed to take Ventolín during the stage. Ventolín can be taken, but without exceed the limit of 1000 nanograms, considered already "adverse result" and not "therapeutic use" of the substance.

This is not the first time of these type of cases, previously, other cyclist like Miguel Indurain on 1994's Tour de L'Oise, Alex Zülle on 1993's "Vuelta al País Vasco", Igor González de Galdeano on 2002's Tour of France, Alessandro Petacchi On 2007's Turn of Italy...

Until now, no decision have been taken about the final resolution of this case, so Chris still has the Turn of 2017 on his palmarés, and he can continue racing. As yet Chris has to defend that he use the salbutamol only for medical reasons and there is no sanction in between, Chris can still keep racing. Giro's director, Mauro Vegni, published that he can't stop him, since he would be infringing his right to race.

In the case of Chris it's prohibed to race and finally the sentence shows that he take the sulbutamol only for medical reasons, Cossa Nostra would have to pay a millionaire compensation.

Team Sky, team in which Chris competes, has said in its initial statement that “There is considerable evidence to show that there are significant and unpredictable variations in the way salbutamol is metabolised and excreted. As a result, the use of permissible dosages of salbutamol can sometimes result in elevated urinary concentrations, which require explanation. A wide range of factors can affect the concentrations, including the interaction of salbutamol with food or other medications, dehydration and the timing of salbutamol usage before the test.”

It's seems that no resolution has been taken in short time and Chris will could finish the Giro. Although there is still if these resolution is positive or negative to Chris, and know if he can continue to own the title of Vuelta a España or will be remove from his record.

Bibliography: 
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-chris-froomes-salbutamol-case-362848
https://www.elespanol.com/deportes/ciclismo/20180502/chris-froome-correr-giro-italia-positivo-dopaje/304220395_0.html

A hard reverse for Argentine cycling

Today, six Argentine cyclists have been accused of doping by the UCI (International Cycling Union) after the positive results in the tests which had been done on January and February, when the accused men were competing in the competitions ‘’Vuelta a San Juan’’ and ‘’Doble Bragado’’.

The UCI communicated to the media that Gonzalo Najar and Gastón Emiliano Javier gave positive results, three cyclists gave ‘’no-negative results’’ and another refused to do the test. The first of them tested positive for CERA (Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator), that had been used by others known athletes to improve their performance. Here you can see some of them:

The rider was surprised in a sample collected the first day of the race, when later, casually, he won the queen stage by nearly two minuts between the second rider and him. Also, his teammate Gastón has been suspended for a doping with Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. 

Both riders are now suspended, and their team, SEP de San Juan, is waiting for a decision from the UCI, that could decide the suspension from 15 to 45 days, as the Article 7.12.1 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules says.

Article 7.12.1 UCI Anti-Doping Rules

Do you think that this is a hard reverse for Argentine cycling? Do you agree with the possible suspension?

Thanks for reading us,

Sergio Torreblanca.

Bibliography:

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/uci-confirms-vuelta-san-juan-winner-gonzalo-najars-positive-test-cera-378965

https://www.infobae.com/deportes-2/2018/05/08/se-confirmaron-seis-casos-de-doping-en-el-ciclismo-argentino/

https://www.clarin.com/deportes/polideportivo/noticia-durisima-ciclismo-argentino_0_SJzWBpa6z.html

https://tn.com.ar/sociedad/ciclismo-argentino-se-confirmaron-seis-casos-de-doping-en-deportistas-nacionales_867515

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_erythropoietin_receptor_activator
http://www.uci.ch

The end of an era, Lance Armstrong

Hi everyone, today I will talk about one of the biggest cyclist of the story, that messed his career because of the doping.
The ex professional and famous cyclist Lance Armstrong were accused of doping some years ago. He had used substances as EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and corticoids. Because of this, the last week he have been called to pay to the US Government 5 millions US$.

The ex Armstrong teammate, Floyd Landis, was the person who opened the doors to the discover of the Armstrong doping. LAndis accused him of doping when they were competing for the same colours.
When the USADA discovered Armstrong, they removed the seven trophies of champion of ‘Tour de la France’ that the cyclist had won and did not never allow to compete Armstrong. The US Postal, that sponsored Armstrong a big part of their career, claim more than 100 millions US$, that included all that they had been paid to Armstrong and images damages. Nevertheless, the US Government concluded that he ‘only’ had to pay a 5% of this figure, 5 millions US$.

Elliot Peters, Armstrong lawyer, told yesterday that this payment finish with all of the Armstrong acusement of doping to improve his performance. The ex ciclist admitted the acusement of doping and notice that is happy about finishing this sad stage of his life.
Do you consider that this cases of doping should finish with a payment? Or do you think that there would be another penalty?

Thanks for reading us,
Sergio Torreblanca.

Bibliography:
http://caracol.com.co/radio/2018/04/19/internacional/1524173855_935419.html
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2127335-el-doping-persigue-a-lance-armstrong-ahora-tuvo-que-pagar-us-5-millones-para-cerrar-un-caso-por-fraude-en-estados-unidos
https://eju.tv/2018/04/el-exciclista-lance-armstrong-acordo-el-pago-de-usd-5-millones-en-la-causa-que-lo-acusaba-de-fraude-federal/
https://www.clarin.com/deportes/polideportivo/lance-armstrong-pagara-millones-dolares-gobierno-unidos-escandalo-dopaje_0_ByiMYFI2f.html
http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/armstrong-el-hombre-que-construyo-un-imperio-a-traves-del-dopaje-207628

Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins under suspicion - It is doping or not?

Some weeks ago, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee make public a report declaring that Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins would have used drugs allowed under anti-doping rules to enhance performance instead of just for medical need.

Concretaly, the report accuse Team Sky of had used the anty-inflammatory drug triamcionolone to prepare Bradley Wiggins for the 2012 Tour de France, that as all know, the britanian cyclist finally won.

Triamcionolone is a substance banned during competition under WADA rules, unless the athlete has a therapeutic use exemption (TUE),  but is permitted out of competition. 

According to the report, Bradley Wiggins would have taken this drug, the final day at 2011 Criterium du Dauphine. If this were true, Wiggins could be banned with two without compete and the loss of results achieved.

Apart from this drug, the report inform about the unclear use of other substances such a testosterone, salbutamol or fluimucil. Many of them drugs are consider as TUEs but Team Sky could have used it for enhance the performance of some his athletes, claiming a "medical use". On his behalf, Team Sky have strongly denied have used TUEs for anything other purpose that medical need.

At the moment, this issue is only a report without a reliable evidence, so that can not lead to any type of sanction, although is expected that UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) open a investigation trying to clarify this matter in the following days.