Björn Leukemans has continued to protest his innocence and denied having used testosterone, saying that he has naturally high testosterone values. Team Predictor-Lotto announced yesterday evening that it had suspended the 30 year-old after learning of the positive doping test.
"I had the same problem in the year 2001," he told HLN. "It seems that the values between testosterone and epitestosterone are too high in my body. That was the case then as it is now. In 2001, I underwent a special test for this at a lab in Cologne, Germany. I was then cleared of all charges."
The problem cropped up again last year, but Leukemans could free himself of all charges again. "In 2006 I heard the same thing at a control by the Vlaamse Gemeenschap [Flemish Community, which also conducted the test this year – ed.]. I forwarded the Cologne lab report and everything was immediately dismissed. And for the World Championships of 2007 I was facing exactly the same problem. I did the same thing as usual, that is, I sent them the medical file from Cologne, but suddenly that doesn't seem to be sufficient anymore.
"According to the last test, I would have used a prohibited gel. However, I deny that most definitely," he stated, noting that, "I knew that there would be a control before the Worlds. Why would I be so dumb as to use testosterone, knowing that? Besides, the scientists say this product does not make you go any faster. You don't run a red light when the policeman is standing right there. I'm not that dumb!"
Leukemans is determined to do all he can to clear his name. "I will now try to prove it with my B-sample. I can let that be checked in Cologne, France and Barcelona. I will send it to the lab in Spain. I absolutely want my rights. I will hire a lawyer and take a doctor and a biologist to control the test."
