Rider sanctioned six years by UCI for using a motor
Van den Driessche was caught using a motor in her seat-tube at the cyclocross world championships in January.
The UCI Disciplinary Commission has announced that Femke Van den Driessche will receive a six-year suspension and a CHF 20,000 fine , equivalent to $26,000 Canadian. The decision follows the discovery of a motor in the 19-year-olds bike at the cyclocross world championships held in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium in January. Van den Driessche was competing in the women’s U23 race when she suffered a mechanical in the final lap of the race. The UCI deployed a scanner that tests for magnetic resonance, and in the pit area using this device a motor was detected in her bike.
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The UCI described the motor Van den Driessche was using as a Vivax which was concealed along with a battery in the seat-tube. The motor was controlled by a Bluetooth device installed underneath the handlebar tape.
Despite continued concerns that motorized doping is prevelant in professional cycling, UCI president Brian Cookson insisted that the technology being used to detect motors is effective. “We have invested considerable resources in developing this new and highly effective scanning technology and in strengthening the sanctions applicable to anyone found cheating in this way,” said Cookson. “This case is a major victory for the UCI and all those fans, riders and teams who want to be assured that we will keep this form of cheating out of our sport.”
All of Van den Driessche’s results from October 11, 2015 were stripped including her U23 European and Belgian titles. She will not be eligible to compete until October 10, 2021. Only the rider was sanctioned, her team received no penalty.
