Ton Aires burst into tears: “The UCI wants to suspend me for two years, but I’m innocent” | Cyclocross

“Today I have to send a message to the world that I actually don’t want,” Ton Aerts opened his press moment with tears.

“Unfortunately, this week I received a letter from the UCI that no one wants to receive. It says the UCI is proposing a two-year suspension.”

“This is a very severe punishment. A very severe punishment for someone who stands up and can say in good conscience that they are not doping sinners.”

Aarts continues to proclaim his innocence. “I had no intention of using anabolic steroids and have never voluntarily taken doping products to improve my performance.”

“I will continue to do everything in my power to prove my innocence.”

Aerts has been sidelined for 10 months, which means his suspension will run until February 15, 2024.

Aerts tested positive on January 19 for the banned metabolite letrozole. Although it was a very small amount.

“We can say with 100 percent certainty that this product ended up in Ton’s body through contamination,” says Yannick Prevost, director of Aertes.

“We suspect the source of the contamination, but it has not been confirmed yet,” he added.

Aerts and his entourage are still planning to trace the source of the contamination. “We will continue to analyze the supplements and any potential issues Ton may have experienced during that time.”

“Hopefully we can find a path where we can continue to work.”

Hair samples can be crucial to proving Aerts’ innocence. This is why he walks around with a curly head and still refuses to cut his hair.

“Hair samples often provide a breakthrough in homicide cases,” says Aerts himself. “Now we’re going to use it in the doping case, because the proof is in my hair.”