Kreuziger case to be heard on September 11, verdict due September 22

The biological passport case involving Roman Kreuziger will go before a panel in just over two weeks’ time, with the Czech Cycling Federation confirming today that a date has been set for September 11 and that a ruling will follow.

The Tinkoff Saxo rider is facing a possible lengthy ban due to irregularities in his biological passport; if he is deemed guilty of blood doping, the 2013 Amstel Gold Race winner would face a suspension of at least two years.

On June 28 Kreuziger and his Tinkoff Saxo team revealed that he was under investigation. He was not selected for the Tour de France, with the team stating then that his presence would be a distraction and would add to the pressure facing the riders.

However at the end of July the team said that in the absence of any movement on the part of the UCI, that it intended allowing him to ride the Tour of Poland and then the Vuelta a España.

The UCI followed up the team’s declaration by saying that it was handing the rider a provisional sanction. This action blocked his return in the Tour of Poland, and made his planned participation in the Vuelta a España unlikely.

Kreuziger appealed this decision to CAS, claiming he had done nothing wrong.

“I am deeply frustrated by this current situation, which makes it impossible for me to do my job and ride my bike,” he stated on August 4. “I’m not a cheat, and I have not committed any doping offence. Experts confirm that there is no evidence of any alleged anti-doping rule violation in my case.”

However last Wednesday the court ruled that the UCI’s provisional suspension was within the rules.

The Czech Cycling Federation today announced that the Arbitration Commission of the Czech Olympic Committee will discuss the case on September 11 and will announce its verdict 11 days later on September 22. The latter will come before the world road race championships, which Kreuziger will hope to ride.

The arbitration panel will comprise three judges. Kreuziger’s lawyer Jan Štovícek intends trying to convince them that the rider did not do anything untoward.

“We hope that in the end common sense will prevail and prove the innocence of Mr. Kreuziger,” he stated.

Whatever the decision, the ruling can be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.