The UCI gave Chris Froome a therapeutic use exemption for the corticosteroid prednisolone at the Tour de Romandie, but they did so without using the correct protocol according to Le Journal du Dimanche.

UCI scientific advisor Dr. Mario Zorzoli signed Sky’s request for the exemption without giving Froome’s medical dossier to a TUE committee, which is something that is listed in the WADA regulations.

The WADA code states that applications for a TUE must be reviewed by a committee that “should include at least three (3) physicians with experience in the care and treatment of athletes and a sound knowledge of clinical, sports and exercise medicine.”

Furthermore, the code notes that “the majority of the members of any TUEC should be free of conflicts of interest or political responsibility in the Anti-Doping Organization.”

Dr. Bermon, Froome’s personal doctor, did not prescribe any corticosteroids to Froome when he was suffering from the chest infection that forced him to pull out of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Ahead of the Tour de Romandie, Le Journal du Dimanche reports, Sky team doctor Alan Farrell requested a TUE that would allow Froome to take 40mg per day of the oral corticosteroid prednisolone throughout the race. This request was reportedly granted and Froome went on to win the race from Simon Spilak and Rui Costa.

Corticosteroids taken orally or by intravenous or intramuscular injection are forbidden during competition without a TUE, and the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) does not allow its member teams to field riders while they are following courses of corticoids. However, Sky is not a member of the MPCC and as such they are not forced to oblige to the rules on corticosteroids.

According to Le Journal du Dimanche, WADA are now investigating the incident.