The international cycling association UCI wants to suspend Toon Aerts for two years, the cyclist announced at an emotional press conference on Thursday. The Belgian was caught last February with the banned substance letrozole metabolite, but maintains his innocence.
Aerts could not hold back his tears when he shared the suspension proposal with the press in Merksplas, Belgium. “We have to send a message to the world that we don’t want to send out at all,” the 29-year-old Belgian began his story.
“I wanted to ride my first cross here a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I received a letter that no one wants to receive. The UCI is proposing a two-year suspension, which means that I can no longer compete this season.”
Last February, Aerts’ world was – as he put it himself – “turned upside down”. Letrozole metabolite, a drug used in the post-treatment of cancer patients, was found in the urine of the 2017 European champion. It inhibits the breakdown of testosterone and anabolic steroids. Aerts denied high and low.
Pending the counter-assessment, Aerts was suspended by his Baloise Trek Lions team. In September, the cooperation was still terminated “in good consultation”, because the UCI did not respond.
Aerts has not gone to a hairdresser since the positive test
The UCI has now sent a letter with the suspension proposal. “It was hell to tell this to my parents, my girlfriend, my brother and everyone,” Aerts sobbed on Thursday. “This is far too severe a punishment for someone who can look at himself in the mirror.”
Aerts has not been to the hairdresser since the positive test and spoke to the press from under a lush head of hair. “It’s not fun to walk around with this haircut, but my hair contains information we can use to prove my innocence,” he said. “That’s why I’m not getting it cut for now.”
The Belgian is appealing against the proposal. If the suspension remains in place, he may not return to action until February 16, 2024.
The cyclocross season is in full swing without Aerts. On Wednesday evening, Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel delivered a spectacle in Diegem, with the former crossing the line as the winner. The Azencross in Loenhout is on the program on Friday.
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