Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto-Dstny) returns to racing this Wednesday within the Alpes-Isère Tour however the younger Belgian climber says he has nonetheless not been clearly knowledgeable as to how a nasal spray – which he’d reported he used throughout an anti-doping take a look at this February – may find yourself with him being briefly positioned on non-active standing.
“I’m blissful to have the ability to race once more, but in addition nonetheless indignant about how my course of went,” Van Eetvelt informed Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws on Wednesday.
On April 22, Van Eetvelt was briefly positioned on non-active racing standing after the AFLD, the French anti-doping authority, queried his use of the spray throughout the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var this February, during which the 21-year-old neo-pro had completed 18th.
Nonetheless, he was quickly acquitted of any potential wrongdoing and is now again in racing.Â
Van Eetvelt informed Het Laatste Nieuws he remained unsure as to why the spray, which he had clearly notified the authorities he was utilizing, was ever the topic of full investigation.
“The French doping authority AFLD requested questions on a substance present in my physique. There are 4 classes: substances that aren’t allowed, substances which are permitted, substances which are solely allowed in sure merchandise, and substances which are all the time allowed. The substance that was in my physique belongs to the third class,” Van Eetvelt stated.
He informed the paper he had notified the authorities throughout the anti-doping process that he used a nasal spray, as is permitted – whereas taking it in pill-form or through an injection is banned – to take the substance, which stays unnamed.
He additionally stated the quantity discovered was “minimal”, and due to this fact couldn’t have been something aside from a twig.
“I have been taking that nasal spray for a very long time. It helps towards allergic reactions and since childhood I’ve excessive allergy values,” he stated. “I nonetheless do not perceive what the issue was. However I fear it may occur sooner or later, so I will not be utilizing that nasal spray once more.”
Final yr, Van Eetvelt gained the Course de la Paix and completed runner-up on the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro d’Italia. Previous to the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var, he’d raced three days of the Problem Mallorca, taking second and third, the Vuelta a Murcia, and the Clásica Jaén ParaÃso Inside.
Van Eetvelt acquired the complete help of his staff throughout the entire course of, who stated in a press launch when the case broke that inserting Van Eetvelt on non-active standing was a measure taken in compliance with the rules of the Mouvement Pour Un Cyclisme Crédible affiliation, which the staff joined in November 2012.
After participating within the five-day Alpes-Isère occasion this week, Van Eetvelt is because of go on to race within the Tour de Suisse later this yr.
“I acquired a number of help, however I did not test social media and headed to Tenerife to flee the fuss and do altitude coaching whereas it was occurring,” he informed Het Laatste Nieuws. “Though I have never been in a position to race for a month, my degree should be good and I’m hoping to carry out effectively within the Alpes-Isère Tour.”