Norwegian federation accuse Qatari policeman of deliberately hitting rider at worlds

Susanne Andersen was riding back to her hotel after finishing 13th in the junior women’s individual time trial at the 2016 world championships in Doha, Qatar when she was hit my a police vehicle. The 18-year-old who rides professionally with Hitec Products was not seriously injured but was left bruised, scraped and shaken up. Her bike was also damaged. Andersen would go on to claim a bronze medal in the junior women’s road race but while the rider remained in the country, the federation did not report the incident for fear of being held in the country.

Now the director sportif of the Norwegian Federation has spoken out and accused the police officer of deliberately hitting Andersen. “I am convinced that it was a deliberate action by the policeman who drove right into Susanne,” Hans Falk told Norwegian broadcaster TV2 who broke the story. “There were no skid marks, and he showed no empathy. Instead he lit a cigarette and talked on the phone oblivious to the girl who was lying on the ground and screamed.”

Andersen felt that the reason she was hit is clear, saying that it was because she was baring her legs in a country that holds traditions of conservative dress. “We were told that it is not unusual for women with bare legs [to be harassed] because it is considered to be controversial clothing,” she said to TV2.

The crash was made known at the time of the incident but allegations of the act being deliberate where not spoken until the rider and team where out of the country. “We were encouraged not to report the case to the police, and told that [if we did] we would not then be allowed out of the country, Falk said. “We thought it was best that Susanne came home.”

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The Norwegian Federation reported the incident and the UCI told TV2 that it had been handled by the organizing committee who notified public authorities. “The situation was handled at the time, and reported on to the public authorities via the local organizing committee,” the UCI told TV2.