Cycling-Van Avermaet to go on racing despite doping ban request (Reuters)
Greg Van Avermaet will not be suspended by his team after the Belgian federation requested a two-year doping ban against the classics specialist, BMC Racing said on Thursday. “The BMC Racing Team is aware of today’s hearing by the Belgian Cycling Federation, Koninklijke Belgische Wielrijdersbond, in which Greg Van Avermaet appeared in relation to the investigation of Dr. Chris Mertens,” BMC said in a statement. “Based on information currently available to the BMC Racing Team, Van Avermaet will not be withheld from competition.” Earlier on Thursday the Belgian news agency Belga reported that Jaak Fransen, the Belgian federation’s prosecutor, requested a two-year suspension against Van Avermaet who is suspected of having doped in 2012 with the help of Mertens.