NICOLAS ROCHE HAS criticised the decision of Team Sky to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Bradley Wiggins to use an otherwise banned drug, calling it ‘ethically wrong.’
The Irish cyclist, who will leave Team Sky at the end of the current season to join BMC Racing, added that the current regulations made it too easy for TUEs to be granted.
“Like I said already on my Twitter a few weeks ago, when WADA was hacked the first time and before the Wiggins story, there is a major problem with TUEs,” Roche told cyclingnews.com.
“There is a problem with the actual system. Again, you can do whatever you want against Wiggins, but unfortunately, as far as ethically it’s wrong, he is within the rules.
“It is wrong that these rules are like that. That’s where the main problem is. Once we get those rules right, there won’t be any abuse, but that’s the priority.”
Wiggins has been in the spotlight since leaked medical data showed the five-time Olympic champion had been granted a TUE by cycling authorities for the powerful corticosteroid triamcinolone, which he was permitted to take just days before the 2012 Tour de France, which he won, as well as the 2011 Tour and the 2013 Giro d’Italia.
Wiggins said he needed the drug to help control his asthma. He and Team Sky are also reportedly at the centre of an inquiry by United Kingdom Anti-Doping.
Roche, who is currently in Doha competing at the World Road Cycling Championships for Ireland, added: ”To be honest, this year I was sick three times and I never needed a TUE, so there is a real problem on the easiness of getting TUEs and how athletes can abuse them.
“I think if you work on that then you have a solution. But the problem is much more than Wiggins, it’s the whole system that needs to be revised.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Are we going to get an article on everyone that won’t be captain?
@John Doe: no I’d say…
I think the captaincy, along with the squad will be reasonably settled and pragmatic.
Porter
Healy
Loughman
Sheehan
Kelleher
Herring
Furlong
Bealham
O’Toole
Ryan
Beirne
McCarthy
Henderson
O’Mahony (Captain)
Baird
VdF
Hodnett
Doris
Conan
Prendergast
Gibson-Parke
Casey
Murray
Crowley
Frawley
Harry Byrne
Aki
Henshaw
McCloskey
Ringrose (Vice Captain)
Frisch
Lowe
Stockdale
Nash
Larmour
Keenan
Zebo
APPRENTICES
Jack Boyle
Tom Clarkson
Thomas Ahearn
Nathan Doak
Sam Prendergast
@Paul Ennis: Serious looking squad to be fair and the right balance of captain / vice captain, with Ringrose perhaps taking the reins a couple of years out from the next world cup. I’ve been really impressed with Dooley since he’s gone to Connaught. Might be an option to blood a new loose head relatively risk free. I think Jager gets a go ahead of O’Toole when recovered from his head injury. Still plenty of other options across the squad, which is a great place to be.
@Paul Ennis: Herring most likely out due to injury so probable Stewart in stead
@TL55: Didn’t hear that. Doesn’t weaken the squad though.
Class act. I’d prefer if he didn’t captain Ireland yet. And just concentrate on his other stuff.
Has he captained Leinster?
@Colm O’ Brien: once. Slow News morning.
I’m paying a subscription and can only access the free articles. Took money on me this morning. Anyone else having this problem..
@Ed: No… but I had to keep logging in every time until I changed my phone and no issues since. You might need to try a new browser or clearing history and caches.
@Ed: it remembers me in the app only.