UCI refer Femke Van den Driessche mechanical doping case to Disciplinary Commission

The 19-year-old's bicycle was confiscated for examination on Saturday after she was suspected of mechanical doping, and it has now been confirmed 

Confirmed: A concealed motor was found in Femke Van den Driessche's bike

The UCI have referred Femke Van den Driessche's mechanical doping case to the independent Disciplinary Commission.

Nineteen-year-old Van den Driessche's bicycle was confiscated at the Cyclo-cross World Championships last month and was found to have concealed a motor.

And her case has now been handed to the independent commission, who will hear evidence from "all relevant parties".

A UCI statement read: "On Saturday 30 January 2016, a concealed engine was discovered in a bike following checks at the Women Under 23 race of the 2016 UCI Cyclo-­cross World Championships.

"Pursuant to the UCI Regulations related to technological fraud, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has today referred the case to the Disciplinary Commission which will hear all relevant parties in the weeks to come.

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"Working independently from the UCI, the Disciplinary Commission is the body in charge of imposing sanctions for breaches of the UCI Regulations."



Speaking after the motor was discovered, UCI president Brian Cookson said: "It's absolutely clear that there was technological fraud. There was a concealed motor. I don't think there are any secrets about that.

"Technological fraud is unacceptable.

"We want the minority who may consider cheating to know that, increasingly there is no place to hide, and sooner or later they will pay for the damage they’re causing to our sport."

Van den Driessche - who faces a six-month suspension and a fine of up to 200,000 CHF (£137,000) - has denied knowledge of the hidden motor, claiming it wasn't her bike.

“It wasn’t my bike, it was that of a friend and was identical to mine," said the Belgian.

“This friend went around the course Saturday before dropping off the bike in the truck. A mechanic, thinking it was my bike, cleaned it and prepared it for my race.”