The International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed that a bike has been detained at the Cyclo-cross World Championships due to suspicion of “technological fraud”.
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Technological fraud, which is also known as “mechanical doping”, is a modern challenge for the UCI but there have been no confirmed cases.
Even though Van Den Abeele refused to name the rider, the Belgian team Rudy De Bie told VRT network it was a rider of the host nation.
Emphasizing the UCI’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the sport, Cookson said the UCI has been looking into new methods for screening more bikes in time-efficient and non-invasive ways.
It is feared that a rider could add a motor to their bike, or another advancement, in order to speed up their progress and the UCI has a clause against the practice in its rules. After taking the bike away, UCI members removed the seat post to see wires.
The bike was seized on Saturday after Van den Driessche, one of the race favourites, was forced to withdraw from the women’s under-23 race because of a mechanical problem. When they wanted to remove the bottom bracket, which is normally not hard, they could not because the crank was stuck. It is unclear if she knew about the back and forth between the UCI and the Belgian team. The bike taken away was reportedly one from Italian manufacturer Wilier. “Someone from her group, who sometimes trains with her, brought the bike to the race, but it was never the intention that she would ride it”. “This completely goes against the values of our company, and the basic principles of sport”.
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If found guilty of cheating the rider faces disqualification, a six-month suspension and a fine of up to 200,000 Swiss francs (180,000 euros, $195,000).
