Two-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome said that "he warned authorities about possible mechanical doping in cycling and wants them to intensify bike checks to catch offenders," according to the London TELEGRAPH. After decades of struggling to combat illegal drug use, "cycling's image suffered a new blow on Saturday when officials at the world cyclo-cross championships found an electric motor in Belgian teenager Femke Van den Driessche's bike." Froome said, "It's a concern that I've had, something I've brought up with the UCI independent commission when I sat down with them and said, 'Listen, from my point of view there are these rumors, it would be my advice that the UCI implements controls and measure to start checking bikes more regularly.'" The UCI has "promised to step up testing" for motorized doping and Froome welcomed the decision. Froome: "I think they are taking the threat seriously and hopefully this will mean that they only increase the number of checks that they do on the WorldTour level" (TELEGRAPH, 2/2). The PA reported UCI President Brian Cookson vowed to stamp out motorized doping after an incident of "technological fraud" at the U23 women's race, which was won by Great Britain's Evie Richards. None of the podium finishers from the race at Heusden-Zolder "are under suspicion." Bikes have been scanned by the UCI at major competitions, including the Tour de France, "in recent years after rumour and speculation regarding motors hidden in frames." But this is "the first time a motor has been discovered" (PA, 2/2).
