Greg Van Avermaet has insisted that he is confident of being cleared of doping despite the fact that the Belgian Cycling anti-doping prosecutor has officially requested a two-year ban for him following an investigation into his links with Dr. Chris Mertens and suspected anti-doping offences.
Van Avermaet, who is competing for BMC Racing at the Tour de Yorkshire, told Cyclingnews that his ‘pretty confident’ of being cleared during next week’s hearing, where he will learn his fate. Along with a two-year ban he also faces a €262,500 fine.
Dr. Mertens is suspected of carrying out banned ozone treatment for several riders, including Van Avemaet, and although the BMC rider has admitted working with the doctor, he remains adamant that he has nothing to hide.
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“For me it’s not a joke, I have to take it seriously because if you hear the ban and the amount of money I’d have to pay it’s crazy,” Van Avermaet told Cyclingnews at the start of stage 1 in Yorkshire.
“For me I’ll be happy when it’s over. It’s already been going on for two and half years. Finally there will be a day when I’m free and I can focus entirely on cycling. I’m confident that there will be no ban. I did nothing wrong and there’s nothing to say.”
Asked why he thought the Belgian prosecutor were seeking a two-year ban if the rider believed he was innocent, Van Avermaet responded: “There was only one solution, all or nothing, and the commission has to decide what’s going on. I hope that they make a good decision and I’m pretty confident because if the ban happens then my world is coming down for something that I didn’t do.”
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