Chris Froome’s chances of lifting BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize drift after drug test shock

Chris Froome is expected to be interviewed live on air by the BBC during the Sports Personality of the Year show on Sunday night.

The 32-year-old, in the spotlight after he produced an adverse finding in a drugs test on the way to winning this year’s Vuelta, had never planned to attend the event.

Instead, Froome is on a Team Sky training camp in Mallorca and will watch from a distance, including a live link-up to the event where he is likely to be questioned about that drug test.

The four-time Tour de France had been the long-time third favourite to win the end-of-year accolade behind overwhelming favourite Anthony Joshua, the heavyweight boxing champion, and Lewis Hamilton after he picked up a fourth world F1 title this season.

​Froome’s odds had been as low as 10-1 but today moved further out to 50-1 in light of the news about the test.

The Briton became only the third rider to win both the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same calendar year.

But he is in danger of being stripped of that first Vuelta crown after being called on by cycling governing body the UCI to explain why he had the double the amount of Salbutamol - a drug he takes to treat his asthma - in his system than permissible on the day of the test in question, September 7.

The UCI today reiterated that Froome was clear to continue riding and was not subject to a provisional suspension.

Any ban could only be handed out after an investigation, which could take months.

Latest odds (provided by Betfair)

• A Joshua (boxing) - 1/8

• L Hamilton (F1) - 7/1

• J Rea (motorcycling) - 33/1

• M Farah (athletics) - 40/1

• C Froome (cycling) - 50/1

• H Kane (football) - 50/1

• J Peacock (para-aths) - 200/1

• A Peaty (swimming) - 200/1

• B Walkden (taekwondo) - 200/1

• A Shrubsole (cricket) - 250/1

• E Christie (skating) - 500/1

• J Konta (tennis) - 500/1