22/04/2023

Lotto Dstny's Lennert van Eetvelt suspended following breach of anti-doping laws

Lotto Dsnty have had a difficult winter as they transitioned out of the World Tour but the horizon has looked bright. This afternoon however that has somewhat changed, as the team announced today they have suspended Lennert van Eetvelt for breaching anti-doping laws during the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var.

The Belgian is being suspsended from racing for the time being with the team announcing that "we have talked to our rider and medical staff and are confident in a good outcome”, the team says, “but we are following the established procedures and therefore put Lennert on non-active for the time being, pending further investigation.”

PREVIEW | Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2023 - Will Tadej Pogacar conquer the Ardennes triptych or will Remco Evenepoel defend his title?

It is believed that Van Eetvelt has broken anti-doping laws (with the exact reason not specified) on the 19th of February at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, on it's final stage. There he finished 18th in the overall classification, but continued into a promising spring where he finished 15th at the Volta a Catalunya and this Wednesday 22nd at Flèche Wallone. He was third and second respectively at the early-season Trofeo Andratx and Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana.

The team argues that it "is an authorised substance, found in a nasal spray that is freely available and authorised in competition, if mentioned during a control and when its use is in accordance with the package leaflet," however until more is known the 21-year old will be out of competition.

"If there is one person from whom we can expect a counterweight to Pogacar, it is Evenepoel" - José de Cauwer

“My world was turned upside down for a moment yesterday," van Eetvelt said in a press release. "No rider wants to receive such a letter. I also don’t really understand what happened. At the doping control, I clearly mentioned that I was taking the nasal spray, as I have already done before in my career. I am not aware of any wrongdoing and hope this is just a mistake and this nightmare will end soon.”

The team is part of the MPCC and hence that could be defining when it comes to the Belgian's future in the team. "We had a good consultation, listened to what happened to him and we are confident in a good outcome. The team applies a strict zero-tolerance policy and therefore Lennert has been put on non-active," the team explained. "We want to stress that this is in no way a conviction but merely the application of the MPCC guidelines. It also gives Lennert time to substantiate his case in the best way possible.”