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Mechanical Doping Case to Disciplinary Commission

By Monica Buck

Femke Van den Driessche, the European and Belgium’s U23 champion, who allegedly used a mechanically doped bicycle at the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in Zolder, Belgium, is going to stand in front of the Disciplinary Commission.

Femke Van den Driessche, the European and Belgium's U23 champion, who allegedly used a mechanically doped bicycle at the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in Zolder, Belgium, is going to stand in front of the Disciplinary Commission.

The European Cycling Union demanded fast and tough action (read more HERE), and the UCI responded. The Disciplinary Commission is supposed to hear all relevant parties in the upcoming weeks.

“Working independently from the UCI, the Disciplinary Commission is the body in charge of imposing sanctions for breaches of the UCI Regulations,” says the official UCI statement.

“Working independently from the UCI, the Disciplinary Commission is the body in charge of imposing sanctions for breaches of the UCI Regulations,” says the official UCI statement.

Van den Driessche didn’t even finish the race at the 2016 World Championships and claims the bike with a hidden motor belonged to a friend she sold it to last year. Nico Van Muylder, the friend in question, admitted owning the bicycle, but that didn’t persuade the cycling community (read more HERE) of Femke’s innocence. Plus, just the mere presence of a mechanically doped bicycle is enough to violate the regulations.

The Belgian rider also faces the rage of Willier. The Italian bike manufacturer, sponsoring Van den Driessche’s Team Kleur op Maat, doesn’t like the fact that their product is closely connected to the scandal and has threatened legal action against the rider.