In 2011, the Dutch cycling association KNWU concealed a positive doping test from a successful Dutch rider, reports Cycling Flash Thursday. Partly at the request of the driver, the news was not brought out at the time.
The rider, who competed in international competitions for the KNWU, was tested positive for the banned substance rhEPO during an out-of-competition check on 4 May 2011. He decided to end his career immediately.
The name of the rider has not been disclosed. “We think it is up to the rider and / or authorities to come out”, says Cycling Flash.
The rider has confirmed the positive doping test. “KNWU director Huib Kloosterhuis accepted my request at the time to keep the positive test out of publicity due to family circumstances. Because I immediately stopped cycling, this was possible. According to Kloosterhuis, this was possible within the regulations”, he tells the website.
‘Consideration made due to private circumstances’
According to general director Thorwald Veneberg of the KNWU, who was active as technical director in 2011, private circumstances were the basis for the concealment of the positive test.
“This assessment was made by the then director at the time,” Veneberg says. “He informed me about this at the time. This was an extremely difficult and sad (family) period for the person concerned. Due to the personal circumstances and because the rider stopped, it was decided – exceptionally – not to publish this.
The outgoing KNWU chairman Marcel Wintels, who was also president of the cycling association in 2011, refused to comment. He was appointed an honorary member by the KNWU on Thursday. He was president of the union since 2006.
The international cycling union UCI is investigating the concealment of the positive doping test.
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