Salbutamol’s performance-enhancing credentials are minimal, but Froome could still face a ban and lose his historic Vuelta a Espana title.

Froome took to Twitter, however, to thank people for their support and to re-iterate his belief that the exact cause of the adverse finding would be revealed.

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.

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) December 13, 2017

“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.”