Juan Medina/Reuters
Tour de France winner Chris Froome returned a failed drug test during his victory at Spain’s grueling Vuelta a España this fall. In September, he became the first cyclist to win the Vuelta and the Tour de France in the same year since 1978. The 32-year-old Briton was informed by the Union Cycliste Internationale that a urine test on Sept. 7 revealed a concentration of the respiratory drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted limit. Froome’s team said he had to take salbutamol after he “experienced acute asthma symptoms” during the race, potentially causing the abnormal results. “The UCI is absolutely right to examine test results and, together with the team, I will provide whatever information it requires,” Froome said in a statement. The cyclist tweeted Wednesday: “Thank you for all the messages of support this morning. I am confident that we will get to the bottom of this. Unfortunately I can’t share any more information than I already have until the enquiry is complete.”