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Sir Dave Brailsford stands by Chris Froome following adverse drugs test: 'He’s done nothing wrong'

The four-time Tour de France winner was revealed to have double the permitted amount of salbutamol in his blood during last year’s Vuelta a Espana

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The Independent Sport
Sir Dave Brailsford believes Chris Froome is innoncent Getty

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford has defended the decision not to suspend Chris Froome following the cyclist's adverse drugs test, insisting “for me, there’s no question, he’s done nothing wrong”.

The four-time Tour de France winner was revealed to have double the permitted amount of salbutamol in his blood during last year’s Vuelta a Espana, with Team Sky subsequently falling under pressure from cycling’s governing body, the UCI, to suspend the Briton.

Froome has not yet been charged by the sport’s authorities but his team have so far failed to provide a sufficient explanation for the abnormal finding, as reported via The Guardian. Nonetheless, the 32-year-old remains clear to compete and is set to make his return to the sport at the Ruta del Sol later this month.

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Brailsford, who has so far adopted a reticent stance over the case, told reporters at the Colombia Oro y Paz race in a rare interview that he has no doubts over Froome’s innocence.

“For me, there’s no question, he’s done nothing wrong – no question,” Brailsford said. “This situation, it’s difficult. We want the UCI to lead the sport, we’ve got the Wada [World Anti-Doping Agency] rules, then obviously we’ve got the team and the individual, and my role is to look after the team and the individual, but also I’ve got to think about the sport in general. But I believe he’s innocent.”

He added: “It should still be confidential. It should never have been made public at this point and everyone is entitled to a fair process. That’s why I think, at the minute, the approach we’ve taken is to support him and make sure we do what we can to have a fair process, even though I do understand it’s a very difficult situation for everyone.”

With Froome set to compete in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France later this year, Brailsford is hopeful a swift resolution can be reached. “We want it to be as fast as possible. The longer it is, for us and Chris himself, the more difficult it is. But, equally, it needs to be done correctly and there’s a process.”