It's always had spyware and probably always will. That's why it's "free". A simple case of getting what you pay for. Trackmania nations is a great game, and the spyware can be removed with a tool, but it must be installed for the game to work. As much as a love the game I won't be running it simply as a matter of principal.
[rant]
On a side note, apparently the mameworld genuises don't frequent our forums, or the internet for that matter (as the spyware thing in trackmania was a farily big story everywhere). They recently posted it on the mameworld news, which I find doubly funny, considering not only did they not know about the spyware, but they posted a glowing review of the now, 4 month old game they "just discovered".
[/rant]