25. 11. 2020 / The incumbent Czech cyclocross champion Emil Hekele rejects accusations of doping. It thus responds to the positive result of the laboratory analysis of samples A and B of the doping control. "The banned substances oxandrolone and clenbuterol must have entered my body without my knowledge, and I am 100% convinced of that. Most likely, it had to take place at a four-day national team meeting in Bělá pod Bezdězem, "says Emil Hekele, a 43-year-old native of Loštice, Moravia.
According to him, it could be contamination during eating, or a bad intention to damage it purposefully. The out-of-competition anti-doping control took place on September 9 at the very end of a four-day representative meeting of cyclocross riders. "Although we had meals at the first joint national training camp as members of the team, it was directed by the cyclocross national team, but in a regular restaurant," mentions Hekele.
As he adds about his own chefs, who would prepare the menu directly for the representatives and guarantee the safety and origin of the food, such as at the hockey or football team, Czech cyclocross riders can only dream. "And so it cannot be ruled out or confirmed that the food was completely safe and the meat could not be contaminated. The four-day training camp is also long enough for anyone to purposefully give me something to drink and deliberately get any substance into my body without my knowledge, ”describes Hekele.
The anti-doping laboratory has not been operating in the Czech Republic for many years, so the samples had to be processed at the Institute for Doping Analysis in Kreische near Dresden, Germany. "A prohibited substance / metabolite was found in the urine sample: oxandrolone, clenbuterol - anabolic androgenic steroids. The analysis of Sample B, performed on 24 November 2020, also confirmed the positive laboratory finding of Sample A. In accordance with Article 7.1.8 of the Directive on the Control and Punishment of Doping in Sport in the Czech Republic, specifically Article 2.1 of the Directive The presence of a Prohibited Substance or its metabolites or markers in an athlete's sample, “Petra Volková, Director of the Anti-Doping Committee of the Czech Republic (ADV ČR), sent Emil Hekele by email today. The ADV CR informs the relevant national federation, international federation and WADA about this fact.
"I have a really clear conscience, which is why I continue to train hard and I am ready to defend myself in the disciplinary committee, although now, as I found out the rules, I know that if any prohibited substance appears in the urine sample and in any amount for doping, even though it happened without my knowledge. The general public, ignorant of the situation in Czech cyclocross, can hardly understand the interconnectedness of individual interest groups and the effort to eliminate me in this way. It never occurred to me, but now I find it very difficult, almost impossible, to get the truth and clear my name. It is technically impossible to obtain over time any contaminated food that a person unknowingly ate, or to analyze the drinks to which the substance could be deliberately delivered without my knowledge, "said Hekele. This year, Emil Hekele was tested for the fourth time overall.
"I know I'm straightforward. I have been talking openly about the situation in Czech cyclocross for a long time, because I really like cyclocross. Unfortunately, my previous criticism of the situation in domestic cyclocross has been confirmed in recent years, "says Hekele. As he recalls from the time of the five-time world champion Zdeněk Štybar, who went abroad, the Czech cyclocross is, with a few exceptions, invisible at the international level in all categories.
According to Hekele, it was an even bigger shock for some officials and club representatives when he won the championship title in Jičín at the age of 42 out of modest conditions. He defeated the younger competitors, defeated the large divisions. As he recalls, he is from a generation that has been willing to sacrifice more hard work for the sport than young racers.
"And some coaches still can't understand that, they are not looking for a mistake in themselves. However, I would not blame the riders themselves, it is mainly about insufficient work with youth at the section level and there is insufficiently financially supported representation. It is mainly about non-reimbursement of the costs of world cups. It is also astonishing that many former quality riders do not return their experience, but rather left completely away from cyclocross and all cycling. This is definitely a shame and especially a big question to think about why this is so. Nobody will tell you officially, it's a public secret that the environment of our cyclocross is not healthy and in the first place are not cyclists, but the economic interest of specific people, who benefit significantly from sponsorship money, "describes Hekele.