Femke Van den Driessche

Femke Van den Driessche
Personal information
Born (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996
Asse, Belgium
Team information
Current team Kleur op Maat - Nodrugs
Discipline Cyclo-cross
Mountain bike
Road cycling
Role Rider
Infobox last updated on
1 February 2016

Femke Van den Driessche (born 27 August 1996) is a Belgian former cyclo-cross cyclist, mountainbiker and road racing cyclist.[1][2]

As a junior she became national cyclo-cross champion in 2011 and mountain bike champion in 2013. In 2015, Van den Driessche won the European Cyclo-cross Championships in the women's under-23 category, and in 2016 she became Belgian champion in the same category, but both titles were stripped later.

She became the first cyclist to officially be charged with mechanical doping, which arose from an incident that occurred at the 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. On April 26, 2016, she was retroactively banned from the sport for six years from October 11, 2015, through October 10, 2021, and all her results since that time shall be disqualified.[3]

Career

As a junior she became national cyclo-cross champion in 2011 and junior national mountain bike champion in 2013. At the junior cyclocross championships she won the silver medal in 2013, winning in 2014 the silver medal at the junior national mountain bike championships. She was also active as a road cyclist and won the provincial time trial championships in the novices category in 2012 after finishing second in the same race the year before.

In the Middelkerke cyclocross race in February 2015 she finished third behind Sanne Cant and the British rider Helen Wyman.

Van den Driessche competed between May and July 2015 on the road in international races in Belgium and the Netherlands. She competed in the national road race championships, BeNe Ladies Tour, Diamond Tour and Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik.[4]

In the 2015-16 cyclosross season Van den Driessche was beaten at the Koppenberg race by Jolien Verschueren in November 2015. Later that month she won her biggest race in her career, the European Cyclo-cross Championships in the women's under-23 category. In January 2016 she became Belgian cyclocross champion in the same category.

Allegations of mechanical doping

Van den Driessche started as one of the favorites during the women's under-23 race at the 2016 World Championships, but failed to finish.[5][6] Her race was interrupted as she had mechanical problems and electrical cables were observed hanging from her bike during a pit stop equipment check.[7][8]

During the race, the UCI checked the bicycles of Van den Driessche and found a motor in a bicycle that was in her pit. Almost six years since the first allegations of "mechanical doping" in cycling, this was the first time in cycling history that evidence of technological fraud had been found. The UCI had been testing a new detection system. The offence carries a minimum six-month suspension and a fine of between SFr20,000 and 200,000.[9][10] Van den Driessche denies she intended to cheat, and maintains that the bicycle was owned by a friend and was taken to the post in error.[11][12][13] In the days following the incident, the friend who was claimed by Van den Driessche, Nico Van Muylder, said to Het Nieuwsblad that the bike was his. However, UCI technical regulation 12.1.013, bars the presence of motors on the bike, regardless of intent or whether the bike was actually used, going to be used or even belonged to anyone on the team. Riders are responsible under strict liability.[6][14][15]

In a clip that was later analyzed from the Koppenbergcross cyclo-cross race in November 2015 some moments look amiss. At one point she pulls away from the break on a cobble climb; apparently with little effort and still sitting on the saddle while others look laboured. At another point where she misses a couple of pedal strokes as she fiddles with her gears, it doesn't seem to take too much from her momentum despite being on an incline at the time.[16]

Reactions to the mechanical doping allegations

On January 31, 2016, Brian Cookson of the UCI held a press conference. He said “It is no secret that a motor was found.” He used three different phrases to characterize use of the motor as "technological doping,' 'mechanical doping' and "technological fraud." 'Legal' proceedings would be commenced, which could result in sanctions of the rider, team or staff. Possible penalties for the rider can be fines up to SFr200,000, and a lifetime ban from the sport. the team could be fined up to SFr1 million.[17] The matter will be heard by an independent Disciplinary Commission that is charged to hear evidence from "all relevant parties" and render its decision on whether a rule violation is proved and the amount of sanctions, if any, for breaches of the UCI Regulations.[18]

The degree of her culpability — given her age, experience, and the responsibility of her team — is an issue. Size of any sanction is controversial, as some riders are deeply affronted by the alleged infraction.[19] Claims have been made that she would receive the minimum sanction, as the weight of full sanctions might be unjust. That matter was referred to Philippe Muyters, the Flemish Minister for Sport.[20] Etixx team manager Patrick Lefevere thought a "lifetime suspension for the cheat" was appropriate.[21]

"I never thought that such schemes were possible. It's a scandal that Femke's entourage have deceived the Belgian federation," he said. Her sponsors expressed outrage at her breach of trust, and said that they would start their own legal actions.[21] "We thought that we had in Femke a great talent in the making but it seems that she fooled everyone." One cyclocross veteran, Sven Nys expressed shock and disappointment. Managing director Andrea Gastaldello, said he was "stunned" by the news that Van den Driessche competed with a concealed motor in her Wilier Triestina bike, "Our company will take legal action against the athlete and against any (person) responsible for this very serious matter to safeguard the reputation and image of the company," he said.[21]

Aftermath and end of career

On March 14, 2016 Van den Driessche announced she will not be defending herself in front of the disciplinary committee on March 15. She cited the heavy suspension demanded by the prosecution and the prohibitive cost of such a procedure in Switzerland. She said she was being denied the chance of getting a fair trial, as she had already been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion. Van den Driessche also announced her immediate retirement from cycling.[22]

On April 26, 2016 it was announced by the UCI that Driessche had been banned for six years and would forfeit all results since October 10, 2015. [23]

Palmarès

2011
1st National Junior Cyclo-cross Championship
2nd Oost-Vlaanderen Provincial Time Trial Championship (Novices)
2012
1st Oost-Vlaanderen Provincial Time Trial Championship (Novices)
2013
1st National Junior XC Championship
1st Paal Mountainbike (Novices)
2nd National Junior Cyclo-cross Championship
2014
2nd National Junior XC Championship

References

  1. ↑ "2016 Cyclo-cross World Championships: Entries list women's under-23" (PDF). wk2016.be. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Femke Van Den Driessche". cyclingarchives.com. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Van den Driessche handed six-year ban for mechanical doping
  4. ↑ "Femke van den Driessche". www.procyclingstats.com. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  5. ↑ Mail Foreign Service (31 January 2016). "Secret electric MOTOR is discovered inside cyclist's bike at women's world championship race after competitor pulls out with 'mechanical problem'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 29 February 2016. Femke Van den Driessche was at the world cyclo-cross championship. But the 19-year-old pulled out of the race — and the device was discovered; Van den Driessche claims the bike was not hers and says she is no cheat
  6. 1 2 Redford, Patrick (February 2, 2016). "Motorized Doping, Explained: Your Guide To The Weirdest Sports Scandal Of The Year". Fittish. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  7. ↑ McCormick, Rich (February 2, 2016). "Pro cyclist caught with concealed motor in bike during world championships". The Verge. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  8. ↑ McMahon Feb. 1, 2016, Daniel. "A professional cyclist just got caught with an electric motor in her bicycle frame". Tech Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ Seaton, Dan (January 30, 2016). "Technological fraud discovered at Zolder cyclocross worlds". VeloNews. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Rider implicated after motor found on bike at world cyclo-cross championships". The Guardian.
  11. ↑ "UCI confirms motorised bike at Cyclo-cross World Championships". BBC. January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Femke van Den Driessche Denies Using Motor at Cyclo-cross World Championships". Cycling News. January 31, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  13. ↑ Some sources were openly incredulous. Mills, Chris (January 31, 2016). "Cycling Has Moved From Actual Doping to 'Mechanical Doping'". Gizmodo. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  14. ↑ Frattini, Kirsten (February 2, 2016). "Van den Driessche's friend claims ownership of motorised bike". Cycling News. Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ Frattini, Kirsten (January 30, 2016). "Race: UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships — UCI investigates possible bike fraud at cyclo-cross Worlds: Bike detained after inaugural U23 women's race in Zolder". Cycling News. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Video: Was Van den Driessche using motor in this race clip? Take a look". Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  17. ↑ Andrew (January 31, 2016). "UCI Confirms Mechanical Doping at 2016 Cyclocross World Championships". Cyclocross Magazine. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  18. ↑ MacKay, Hamish (February 10, 2016). "Mechanical doping in cycling". Daily Mirror. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  19. ↑ Slater, Matt (February 12, 2016). "Evie Richards: Van den Driessche merits long ban for mechanical doping". BBC Sport. Retrieved March 1, 2016. New British cycling star Evie Richards believes Belgian rival Femke Van den Driessche should be banned for at least two years for mechanical doping. "Six months is pretty short as it's only a season off the bike - I think a couple of years. But because she is such a young age I think there should be more penalties for the coaches and support team around her. Belgium is so into cyclo-cross that it's quite upsetting there wasn't the right support around her. So I think the penalties should not just be on her."
  20. ↑ Curtin, Daniel, Jr. (February 10, 2016). "Rumors & Rumblings: Femke Van den Dreissch May Only Get 6 Month Suspension and Fine". Cyclocross Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2016. Flemish MP Lionel Bajart has indicated in a press release that whether mechanical or biological, the idea behind the sanction is the same, to discourage cheating and punish those who are caught. However, he also cautioned that without explicit mention in the country’s anti-doping charter, there are questions as to whether full sanctions are just.
  21. 1 2 3 McMahon, Daniel (February 1, 2016). "A 19-year-old Belgian cyclist got caught cheating at the world championships after racing a bike that had a motor hidden in the frame". Business Insider. Retrieved March 1, 2016. We are literally shocked, as the main technical partner, we want to distance from this act absolutely contrary to the basic values of our company, and with the principles of each sporting competition. Really unacceptable that the photos of our bike is making the rounds of the international media due to this unpleasant fact. We work every day to bring worldwide the quality of our products and when we know that a Wilier Triestina’s bike is meanly tampered we’re very sad. Our Company will take legal action against the athlete and against any responsible for this very serious matter, in order to safeguard the good name and image of the company, marked by professionalism and seriousness in 110 years of history.
  22. ↑ "Femke Van den Driessche: 'Mijn proces was overal al gevoerd'". De Standaard. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ "The UCI announces Disciplinary Commission decision in the case of Femke Van den Driessche". Union Cycliste Internationale. Union Cycliste Internationale. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2016-04-26.

External links

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