Tour de France blocks Chris Froome from racing - reports
A report in Le Monde claims Tour de France organisers are trying to block the Briton from competing, but Team Sky insist he will race.
Team Sky remain confident Chris Froome will be able to compete in the Tour de France after a report suggested race organisers had blocked the reigning champion from signing in for the event, which begins on Saturday.
In a report on Sunday, French newspaper Le Monde claimed race owner Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) had barred Froome from starting the race - as the Briton and his team continue to await a verdict from the International Cycling Union (UCI) regarding the adverse analytical finding he returned at last year's Vuelta a España.
Four-time Tour de France winner Froome, who exceeded the permitted limit for asthma medication salbutamol at the Vuelta, an event he won, vehemently denies any wrongdoing and insists he "has every right to be racing".
Sky: "We are confident that Chris will be riding the Tour"
Le Monde claims Team Sky are appealing against ASO's decision to the French Olympic Committee, who will reportedly consider the case on Tuesday and announce their verdict the following day.
When contacted by Omnisport, a Team Sky spokesperson stated: "We are confident that Chris will be riding the Tour as we know he has done nothing wrong."
Omnisport also contacted ASO for comment, but has yet to receive a reply. The organisation is said to have pointed to rules allowing it to refuse participation to a team or team members whose presence would cause reputational damage for ASO or the event.
Froome has not been suspended by the UCI and won this year's Giro d'Italia, meaning he currently holds all three Grand Tour titles.