Astana rider Vincenzo Nibali of Italy cycles during a team training session in Utrecht, Netherlands, July 3, 2015. The 2015 Tour de France cycling race will start in Utrecht, on Saturday July 4. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
UTRECHT, Netherlands (Reuters) - The Astana team were plunged into controversy again when Dutch rider Lars Boom faced being thrown out of the Tour de France because of low Cortisol levels on the eve of the start.
Low levels of the hormone can be explained by the use of corticoids, anti-inflammatory drugs that are allowed out of competition but forbidden while racing unless a rider is granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
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