The 29 year old Belgian cyclo-crosser, Ben Berden, has tested positive for EPO, according to a report in Tuesday's Het Belang van Limburg and later confirmed by other sources. The test was carried out on the John Saey-Deschacht rider at a race in Essen last December. A counter-analysis has yet to be performed, however on Wednesday morning, one of his sponsors John Saey confirmed to Belga that, "Berden has admitted that he used EPO. He started to use the product at the beginning of December 2004. When his hematocrit fell to 38 he decided to take EPO of his own accord. After the 'cross in Essen he told his family. On Wednesday last week, he told me that he wanted to talk to me after the Belgian Championships about a problem."
Berden - who is the first cyclo-crosser to test positive for EPO - faces dismissal from his team and it could well mean the end of the John Saey-Deschacht team. "I already knew about the ominous news that Berden tested positive for the use of EPO," said co-sponsor Ronny Deschacht to Belga. "This is a disappointing affair. Berden probably let himself be trapped. He felt tired and always wanted to have good performances. That's probably why he sought refuge in this means."
