A routine check of a rider’s bike after Saturday's UCI U23 women's race at the World Cyclocross Championships in Belgium is is believed to have uncovered a “technological fraud”.
By Brian Canty
UCI officials checking for bike doping have found suspected irregularities in a bike at the World Cyclocross Championships in Belgium.
The bike confiscated for further examination was ridden by a top rider in the U23 women's race in Zolder on Saturday.
While rumours of 'bike doping', also known as 'mechanical doping', have abound for years and the UCI has been checking bikes for a number of seasons, no cases have been found.
The concerns that have grown in recent years have centred on fears that tiny motors could be hidden from sight and could give a rider a boost in power during key periods of a race.
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However, it was unclear at the time of writing if the UCI officials believe a fraud of that precise nature is what they may have found in this case.
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The irregularities being examined have been referred to as possible "technological fraud". No further detail was outlined.
The rider in question has been successful in the past in major international races. However, she did not feature in the final of Saturday's title race.
Her bike was tested after random selection and not because she placed in the medals.
The UCI issued a short statement confirming it had seized a bike and that an investigation was underway.
“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) confirms that pursuant to the UCI's Regulations on technological fraud a bike has been detained for further investigation following checks at the Women's Under 23 race of the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships,” read the statement.
“This does not concern any of the riders on the podium. Further details will be shared in due course.”
If the suspicions are proven and the case is one of bike doping, it would be the first known case of its kind and the revelation would be devastating for cycling.
More to follow.
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