Head of UCI David Lappartient says body will investigate Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins over alleged ‘cheating’

Bradley Wiggins claims he used the corticosteroid triamcinolone legally via therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to treat asthma and a pollen allergy

The UCI president has called for Team Sky to be investigated (Getty)

The head of world cycling has called for his organisation to investigate Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins over accusations of what he labelled “cheating”.

David Lappartient, who was elected president of the UCI last September, said the findings of the UK government’s parliamentary inquiry – which accused Team Sky and Wiggins of being unethical during his career – were “unacceptable”.

“When you can see substances were used not for health problems but to increase your performances, then that’s unacceptable for me,” Lappartient told the BBC.

Wiggins claims he used the corticosteroid triamcinolone legally via therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to treat asthma and a pollen allergy, and says the accusations, made by one unnamed source, are part of a “smear” campaign against him.

But Lappartient said the UCI will launch its own investigation, and made clear that he considers any misuse of TUEs as breaking the rules. “If you are using substances to increase your performances, I think this is exactly what is cheating,” he said.

The revelation of the UCI’s investigation puts further pressure on Team Sky and their manager Dave Brailsford. Brailsford’s lead rider, Chris Froome, is currently building a case to defend himself following an adverse sample for the asthma drug Salbutamol returned during his 2017 Vuelta a Espana triumph.

Froome is still free to race while his case is ongoing, but Lappartient believes it would be terrible for the sport if the Briton was to compete in this year’s Tour de France with his case unresolved. “That would be a disaster for the image of cycling,” Lappartient said. “On the legal point of view he has a right to ride, but for the image of our sport that would be a disaster.”