Vacansoleil rider describes outcome as ‘a great load off my mind’
Five years after testing positive in an out of competition test carried out on September 26th 2007, the Belgian rider Bjorn Leukemans has been cleared of doping by the Disciplinary Board of the Flemish Community.
It has ruled that he was unjustly penalised in the case, which saw him handed a two year ban from racing.
“It’s ended well, all well,” the Vacansoleil DCM rider told the Gazet van Antwerpen. “It is a great load off my mind. It was a hassle in previous years, but now I’m totally cleared.”
Leukemans was tested in the run up to the world road race championships; a urine sample taken then showed that he had testosterone to epitestosterone levels of 6:1. This was above the permitted maximum of 4:1 and despite his claims that he had naturally high levels, he faced a disciplinary procedure.
Subsequent IRMS analysis was carried out in Ghent and Barcelona and it was reported then that the testosterone presence was from an artificial source.
The-then Predictor-Lotto doctor Sam Vermeire was fired by the team after he admitted prescribing the substance Prasteron, which contains the forbidden hormone DHEA. He admitted making a mistake, but said that the presence of the substance couldn’t explain the IRMS result.
Leukemans continued to insist he was innocent, although this didn’t stop him having to serve a two year ban. Now five years after the initial test, he has been cleared by the Flemish body. It is uncertain if this in turn could be appealed.
The 35 year old has finished fourth in both Paris-Roubaix and the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and this year won the Druivenkoers Overijse.