Doping

Well that clears that up. May consider a urine proof suit to wear on the Alp in a few weeks.

Exactly, there certainly is that feel to it, especially given that UCI had WADA's decision on their hands last Thursday already

bulk buys asthma puffers

bulk buys asthma puffers

If you're doping, don't waste your time and money on inhalers, just buy tablets. You'll probably want to take one every 6 hours for about a month to get any effect. Try not to get tested while you're taking them or for a few days after you stop.

[tinfoil hat] So the UCI saw the ASO's move and rushed through a verdict to get Froome on the line then, ok that makes sense.

UCI only got word from WADA June 28, they claim

http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/uci-statement-anti-doping-proceedings-involving-christopher-froome/

I'm ok thanks. I was prescribed some puffers after my breathing troubles at the Worlds in 2015. I sometimes carry one if it's going to be a cold ride (particularly overnight stuff) but I've not really used one in anger since I've not been as bad as that first incident. I wonder if I've changed something that has helped my lungs or if I've just not tested them hard enough since?

Tl.dr for the UCI press release:
Trust us, it's OK, we're not gonna tell you who or what told us, but trust, Ok?

so if you're an Ullissi or Petacchi do you get any wins/money that were stripped returned to you and bans taken off your record?

Depends on whether WADA responds to this by changing the rules surrounding Sabutamol or states that the test is flawed.
In which case, I expect they have the right to ask for the decision to be reviewed?
Ulissi admitted negligence so not sure he can come back from that.

Petacchi on the other hand, had a lower level of Sabutamol (1300ng/ml) which given recent WADA changes allowing for adjusted results taking into account dehydration, may in fact now be under the limit. One of his arguments at the time was dehydration I believe.

Froome's sample was downgraded from 2000ng/ml to 1429ng/ml. If you apply the same 28.55%, this would bring Petacchi's sample to 929ng/ml which would be under the limit.
Given that he lost 5 giro stage wins, I reckon he'd be silly not to appeal.

The UCI are quite clear that they’ve made the decision based on the evidence available in this case. Given Froome would’ve been tested every day he was leading the race, they’ve got data on Salbutamol levels in his samples for most of the race.

I have no doubt there will be changes to how they test for Salbutamol, but I don’t think there will be a blanket ban and amnesty for previous offenders.

I take it we're going to have to wait for the reasoned decision before much of this is actually cleared up. Baffling why they wouldn't publish them both together - "I know, lets make sure there is as much murk as possible first".

To me, it seems along with the other tests from the Vuelta, the key thing he needed to show was that it was quite feasible for him to test over the threshold while puffing a permitted dose. As soon as he can do that, he's got to be let off really. Will be interesting to see if this is what he's managed to do.

If they guys mentioned who got popped for this in the past were not able to do that, it kinda explains why their bans were upheld.

The WADA press release, just published, has some more details;

https://www.wada-ama.org/en/media/news/2018-07/wada-will-not-appeal-uci-decision-in-christopher-froome-case

They say a single urine sample cannot show excess so instead looked at the other 21 and determined that in that context the single urine sample was with acceptable parameters

They say a single urine sample cannot show excess

How can they ban someone for 'failing' one test then?

The sal test becomes irrelevant for anyone but stage racers?

I think the rules will adapt somehow

Everyone: We want to see whether Froome doped.

UCI:

Yasssssssss

Thing is if you are part of the Froome is a massive doper brigade then one AAF for asthma medication doesn't explain the transformation from pre-2011 donkey to post 2011 best stage racer of a generation anyway. It's like getting a serial killer on a speeding ticket.

That's how they got Capone...

Again, this is where Brailsford coming out and saying they're whiter than white, but then saying they'll happily go right up to the absolute limit of the rules, and then the Jiffy bag snaffu really help fuel the impression that Sky say one thing and practice another, to the detriment of Froome's personal credibility in being their star rider.

Froome also trying to throw Wiggo under the bus for his use of TUEs when he himself has used them then got popped for excess Salbutamol is also another resounding PR own goal.

Salbutamol can be taken without a TUE.

Frankly I am amazed Brailsford has still got a job. Sky have been a slow-motion car crash for several years now and they are lucky they have a very patient sponsor/owner. Doesn't James Murdoch ride in the team cars or something? He's a cycling fan anyway so Sky may be a little vanity project for him. If any other team lurched from one crisis into another disaster on a regular basis the sponsor would have either walked or got the manager to fall on their sword.

"Taking HGH on a Wed
Taking Test on a Thur
Taking EPO on a Fri
and on a Saturday I'm down the clubs... oooh"