Dropped

Dierckxsens admits taking banned substance

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Posted: Sunday July 25, 1999 11:00 PM

French radio said Dierckxsens told his team that he took a banned substance to aid his recovery from a knee injury. Doug Pensinger/ Allsport

SAINT-GAUDENS, France (CNN/SI) -- Belgian champion Ludo Dierckxsens has admitted to having taken a banned substance and has been dropped by his team, Italy's Lampre.

In a statement Monday, the International Cycling Union said the winner of the 11th stage of the Tour de France had tested negative for banned substances during a post-race test after he won his stage.

But Dierckxsens acknowledged using a banned product, Synacthene, for a knee injury, and had a doctor's prescription for the drug -- yet hadn't told his team.

It was the first case of a cyclist admitting to taking a banned substance during this year's Tour.

Pietro Algeri, director of the Lampre team, decided to send Dierckxsens home, and he left for Belgium on Monday.

Last year's race came to a virtual halt after members of the Festina team, subsequently banned, admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Dierckxsens, 35, said after winning last Thursday's stage between Le Bourg d'Oisans and Saint-Etienne that it was the highlight of his career.

 

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