Team Sky is Falling Down

Formed in 2010, Team Sky is the most decorated team in the history of professional cycling. The team tasted its first major victory in 2012 when Bradley Wiggins became the first British winner of Tour de France. The titles never stopped falling in their bag. Chris Froome finished first in Tour de France for four years, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. He also won the Vuelta a España in 2017, bringing the overall tally of titles won by Team Sky last year to 13. All of which seems to fall under a dark shadow of deceit.

The report on doping in sports by Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee concluded Sir Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky were using the drug triamcinolone. Wiggins has been known to suffer from asthma and used the drug under therapeutic use exemption (TUE) system, hence skirting around the doping regulations. Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid that has a powerful anti-inflammatory action, and the side-effect of dramatically reducing an athlete’s body fat while not killing their power output the way a diet would. Which would co-incidentally be perfect for a Tour de France participant.

This report amidst the crisis being faced by their star rider, Chris Froome, who reportedly failed a drug test has brutally wounded the Team’s credibility. Froome’s blood contained twice the permittable limit of 1,000 ng/ml of salbutamol, a drug used to treat asthma. Although Froome and owner, Dave Brailsford deny any wrongdoing, the damage had already been done.

Investigations are being conducted to check for misuse of therapeutic use exemption forms and widespread drug abuse by members for performance enhancement. There is no conclusive evidence to state that the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code was broken, but it is evident Team Sky was riding on the “ethically wrong” side of the peloton. In a 2011 Guardian interview, Brailsford said: “There’s no place for drugs in the sport and we like to think that we’re at the forefront of trying to promote clean cycling. That philosophy will always stay. If we thought it wasn’t possible, then I’d be out.” It all seems so hollow now.

The lack of thorough medical records makes it difficult to find evidence to either prove or disapprove the claims. The MPCC (Movement for Credible Cycling) has called for a rule change to prevent riders such as Chris Froome, who is undergoing investigation, from taking part in races. Due to the grave accusations in the past year, there have been several demands for Dave Brailsford’s resignation or the dissolution of Team Sky itself. Team Sky and all its member stand their ground and continue to disregard all allegations.

Former World Cycling Champion, Lance Armstrong confessed in 2013 to doping stating, “It is my hope that revealing the truth will lead to a bright, dope-free future for the sport I love, and will allow all young riders emerging from small towns throughout the world in years to come to chase their dreams wit

hout having to face the lose-lose choices that so many of my friends, teammates and opponents faced. I hope that all riders who competed and doped can feel free to come forward and help the tonic of truth heal this great sport.”

The recent case of Team Sky has proven that the cycling fraternity is still tainted. There is a need for the UCI to tighten the noose on the anti-doping regulations. The personnel allowed access to drugs for legitimate medical use should be vigilantly monitored. Further, the teams should look into internal restructuring in order build trust. Independent audit authorities for keeping track of steroid use, team’s health and medical policies. Steps need to be taken to ensure maximum transparency in sports.

Ancient Greek writer, Sophocles had rightly said, “Rather fail with honour than succeed by fraud.”