Cycling: Chris Froome (Sky) could soon go public and surprise everyone. According to the latest reports from Italy, the Briton plans to admit the banned intake and thus speculate on a short ban. If the Sky professional were only banned for six months, he could as planned Tour of Italy and the Tour de France deny. If his denial defense fails, he faces a ban of up to two years. [Edit: Meanwhile Chris Froome has the article of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera objected.]
Is Chris Froome's acquittal impossible?
Since Christmas, Chris Froome has covered 4.500 kilometers training in South Africa. The four-time Tour de France winner is preparing for the new season as if nothing had happened. A few weeks ago, several newspapers published the suspicion that he wanted to talk his way out of the salbutamol scandal by citing a malfunction in his kidney. The Italian Newspaper Corriere della Sera according to the Froome defense, however, this strategy now appears to be off the table. There they are said to be aware that no excuse will succeed in completely escaping a ban.
Doping ban: Froome wants to talk his way out of it with kidney dysfunction
Is Sky going to a deal?
Instead of hypocritically evading responsibility, the accused could make a confession. If the Briton admits that he deliberately took a higher dose of salbutamol during the Vuelta a Espana, he automatically accepts a ban of several months. This could be nine or even six months. If he were banned for nine months, he could compete in the Tour de France. If you take him out of the race for just six months, he would even be eligible to start in the Giro d'Italia. The disadvantage of this approach, however, would be that he would be stripped of his victory at the 2017 Vuelta a Espana, as well as that Bronze medal in the time trial at the World Championships in Bergen.
Bit of everything on the menu today… putting in the hard yards 🚵🏻♂️💨 pic.twitter.com/QhlDEs4q1i
- Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) 23 January 2018
Edit: Froome denies reporting
After Chris Froome on the report in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera was informed, he published a brief statement on Tuesday afternoon. The Brit disagrees with the full report.