Roel Paulissen
The Royal Belgian Cycling Federation (KBWB) this week recommended a ban of two years and a fine of 87,500 euros be imposed upon Roel Paulissen, following the former-world champion’s two positive tests for clomiphene.
The 2008 and 2009 UCI marathon world champion first tested positive for the banned hormone in June and announced his retirement shortly afterwards. Paulissen, 34, has maintained his innocence throughout the case and reasserted his position at the hearing on Monday.
“I’m been part of the sport for 15 years and have always worked under medical supervision. I used three nutritional supplements (taurine, zinc and calcium) and now I sit here at this table,” he said, according to Belgium’s Het Nieuwsblad. “Clomiphene is an agent that is not used as a doping product and it can also be monitored.”
Clomiphene is a hormone normally administered to women to help treat infertility problems. Although rarely used by athletes it is sometimes utilized by male weightlifters, due to the increase in testosterone the treatment provides.
A final decision on Paulissen’s penalty is expected later this month.