After being acquitted by the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation (KBWB-RLVB) last Tuesday the dark shadow of a possible doping ban has been taken away from young Laurens Sweeck (Corendon-KwadrO). His parents Christine and Stefaan reacted to the news with an open letter in which they explain the seven-month long nightmare their son and his family went through.
Sweeck is a talented 21-year-old Belgian cyclist. Despite his young age, he managed to win among the elite riders in the highly contested Belgian cyclo-cross scene. He also finished as runner-up at the 2015 U23 cyclo-cross world championships in Tábor. His twin brother Diether and older brother Hendrik are also cyclo-cross riders.
When news broke about investigations from the Leuven police into the affairs of Doctor Chris Mertens, the case was soon highlighted by the possible treatment of blood with ozone therapy. Several blood bags were said to be found in the doctor's back office and DNA tests were to lead the investigators to Mertens' clients.
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No definitive evidence of doping was found, but still the prosecutor delivered his information to the Flemish sports authorities. The information featured the names of cyclo-cross riders Bart Wellens, Tom Meeusen and Laurens Sweeck. That's when the KBWB-RLVB decided that, according to the UCI-rule 9.2.002, the national team was no longer allowed to select the riders who were involved in this case. For the cyclo-cross riders this decision had a major impact as they could not be selected for the Hoogerheide cyclo-cross World Cup and the World Championships of the following week. They appealed the decision at the Belgian arbitrary court for sports (BAS-CBAS). The BAS-CBAS decided the UCI-rule didn't apply.
A month later, on the eve of the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad news broke that road cyclist Greg Van Avermaet, Wellens and Meeusen were soon to be heard in the case by the KBWB-RLVB. Sweeck had already been heard by the Flemish community. He was accused by the Flemish doping authority NADO of breaking the no-needle-policy by possessing and using Vaminolact infusions. In his hearing Sweeck explained that in 2011 and 2012 he orally used the amino acid supplements for infants which are not on the doping list. In contrast to the other names in the case Sweeck wasn't judged by the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation but by a doping commission of the Flemish Community since he was regarded to be a non-professional athlete.
While Van Avermaet, Meeusen and Wellens were all acquitted, a decision in Sweeck's case was postponed several times before the Flemish community eventually concluded that it was up to the KBWB-RLVB to make a call. The NADO learned that since June 9 Sweeck was qualified as a professional athlete by the International Cycling Federation (UCI). On that day the UCI added Sweeck to the list of riders who were to fill out their whereabouts. Because of that different status Sweeck should be allowed to appeal at CAS which is not possible after a decision from the Flemish government. That's why they handed over the case to the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation. Just like with the other riders in this case, the cycling federation quickly decided that, due to a lack of direct evidence, Sweeck was to be acquitted.
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