Tuesday 28 July 2015 17:41, UK
The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency has criticised the treatment handed out to Team Sky’s Tour de France winner Chris Froome by spectators.
Froome won the race for a second time in three years after a difficult Tour which saw the 30-year-old being called a "doper", doused in urine and spat at.
Sir Craig Reedie, the WADA president, said Froome should not have had to endure such behaviour.
He said: "I think that was very regrettable and I hope that it involved only a very small number of spectators. I do not believe that is how French supporters of cycling normally behave.
"I do welcome the efforts that have been made to change the whole culture of the sport, and I think it must have been difficult for the team to operate under such intense scrutiny.
"I assume there has been a wide and extensive testing procedure for the riders in the Tour de France and we await the results with interest.
“But unless there are findings or evidence to the contrary, all sports people must be given the benefit of the doubt.
"The UCI are certainly making sustained efforts to change the culture of the past, they have had an independent commission report and have created an independent anti-doping agency and I think it is pretty important the UCI win this particular argument."
