Toon Aerts tests positive for banned substance

The Baloise - Trek Lions team has posted earlier on Twitter that their athlete Toon Aerts has tested positive for a banned substance.

"Today I received a letter of the UCI that no athlete wants to receive. I don't know how this got into my body. I will do utmost to to prove my innocence." Toon Aerts and the Baloise - Trek Lions Team have announced today that the former Belgian cyclocross champion tested positive in an out-of-competition test for the substance Letrozole on the 19th of January.

“We have heard Toon and take him at his word that he himself has not taken any products that may contain the substance. We are now waiting for the B sample and any further elements Toon can collect. We have been very fond of Toon for years and hope for better news soon with him. As a precaution and in consultation with Toon, it has been decided that he will no longer take action and that he will be inactive until more is known.”

Letrozole is a substance used to battle breast cancer, it blocks an enzyme responsible for a key step in the formation of estrogens which can boost the natural levels of testosterone by preventing its breakdown, and is not known to be in any dietary supplement that may contaminate a sample.

“As a team, we owe that to ourselves, the other riders in the team and the cycling fans. The team will refrain from further comment as long as the result of the B sample is not known.”