• Cycling

Froome 'inevitably' tainted by Tiernan-Locke doping case

ESPN staff
December 18, 2013
Chris Froome faced questions about his performance throughout his Tour de France victory © Getty Images
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Tour de France champion Chris Froome admits it is inevitable that his own reputation will be tainted as Team Sky team-mate Jonathan Tiernan-Locke is investigated for a doping violation.

Briton Tiernan-Locke faces disciplinary charges from anti-doping authorities after irregularities were discovered in his biological passport dating back to 2012, prior to his switch to the team.

Team Sky have suspended the 28-year-old pending the results of the current investigation, and have petitioned the UCI to embed one of their anti-doping officials within the team in an effort to prove that they are training and racing clean according to reports in The Times.

Nevertheless, Froome expects to suffer from guilt by association, whatever the outcome of Tiernan-Locke's case.

"Definitely. Inevitably that's the reality of it," Froome told BBC Sport. "It's hugely unfortunate for the team this is now happening."

Tiernan-Locke, who was riding for the Endura team in 2012 before signing for Sky, claims he is innocent, as does his former team manager Brian Smith.

"I'm 100% behind him," said Smith. "He's not a doper. Endura racing had a no-doping stance and as far as I'm concerned he was true to his word."

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