Belgian police raid more houses

Bruylandts, Omloop, Van Santvliet targeted

Belgian police have carried out a series of drug raids on 15 houses in the regions of Dessel and Mol, reported Gazet van Antwerpen. On Thursday, around 50 police, acting under orders from judicial authorities in Turnhout, searched the houses of Dave Bruylandts, Geert Omloop and his father Marcel, Peter van Santvliet, and ex-riders Luc Vandenbroeck and Ludo Giesberts, among others. They allegedly found clenbuterol, nandrolone, EPO, anabolics, stumulants, and growth hormone in 10 houses. 13 people were taken in for questioning, but all were released.

Bruylandts was suspended in April of 2004 after testing positive for EPO. He is set to return to racing at the end of next week when his ban expires. He denied that any illegal substances were found at his home.

More than three months' planning went into the searches. According to a court spokeswoman, most of the products found were in small quantities. The investigators want to analyse the products seized before continuing further with their questioning.