TOUR de France organisers have blocked four-time champion Chris Froome from competing in this year’s race starting next Saturday, Le Monde reported.

Froome insisted Wednesday that he will compete in this year’s race after the Team Sky star was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during September’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won.

A final decision on the organisers’ attempt to prevent him from taking part is expected to be made by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, which is to make a ruling Tuesday, Le Monde said.

Technically, while Froome awaits the result of an ongoing investigation into his Salbutamol case, he can still ride on the Tour.

- AFP