Police raid several homes linked to cyclists, body builder, find doping products

Police raided the homes of 15 people linked to professional cycling and body building and found several doping products, including endurance-boosting EPO, and muscle building clembuterol and nadrolon, an official said Friday.

Photo: Police raid several homes linked to cyclists, body builder, find doping products

During dawn raids Thursday, authorities found doping products in 10 of the homes raided and took 13 people for questioning, said Inge Delissen of the prosecutor's office in Turnhout. No one was charged.

"The amounts found point to users and it is unclear whether there also was dealing going on," said Delissen.

She said it would take weeks before all products were fully analyzed. The raids came at the start of the busiest time of the season in Belgium's cycling calendar, with several ProTour races planned over the next weeks, including the classic Ronde of Flanders.

Delissen refused to name any of the people questioned and could not confirm media reports that suspended-cyclist Dave Bruylandts was involved. Media reported Bruylandts denied any involvement.

Bruylandts is in the last full week of an 18-month suspension for testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO, reports the AP.

D.M.