Two year suspension for Toon Aerts following doping case, calls it "far too severe a punishment"

Toon Aerts has officially been suspended for two years following the use of Letrozole. The UCI took 11 months to confirm the decision for the case, Aerts has had a press conference this morning in Merksplas announcing the decision.

Letrozole is a substance used to prevent the growth of estrogen in the body, which can be used as a testosterone booster. Aerts tested positive in an out-of-competition test on the 19th of January this year, and although he has not been suspended, he has not raced again.

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"We have to send out a message that we really don't want at all the former Belgian champion said in the press conference. “As hard as we worked and looked forward to good news, we got a letter that no one wanted. A two-year suspension from the UCI. As a result, I will certainly not be racing this season. I can take part in official competitions again on February 16, 2024 at the earliest."

Right before the cyclocross season began, Aerts was sacked from his Baloise - Trek Lions team. His fan group has been quite vocal and present in races with the demand of the case being solved fast, and so as the Belgian on occasion, who even let his hair grow as he wanted to leave no stone untouched in his path to try and prove his innocence.

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“It's a rather severe punishment, far too severe a punishment. I can state in good conscience that I am pure, but the rules think otherwise after a product was in my body that I have never heard of. As you can see, I never cut my hair until today. There's proof in here that I didn't take this voluntarily," Aerts said.

“The UCI decided that I should be suspended for 24 months, which is incomprehensible to me. It was hell telling this to my parents, girlfriend, brother and everyone, but people kept believing in me. I get an incredible amount of support from this and I want to thank them all."