Vandenbroucke to take UCI to court

Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke (Mitsubishi-Jartazi), 33, is creating attention as his team cannot field him in ProTour races. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Frank Vandenbroucke plans on appealing the decision made by the UCI earlier this week, which prohibits his Jartazi-Mitsubishi team from selecting him for any ProTour races for which they receive a wild card invitation. Jartazi-Mitsubishi received wild card status by the UCI on Friday, February 29 on the condition that they not nominate Vandenbroucke for any races which hold ProTour status.

"This is pure insanity," Paul De Geyter, Vandenbroucke's manager told Belgian newspaper HLN. "There are no other words to describe it [the decision of the UCI]. Frank has been punished for offences that occurred in 2000 the night before Omloop Het Volk. A punishment he has already served. Furthermore, they are accusing him of racing in Italy under another name. They have never questioned us over that at all and have taken all their information from the media. They also accuse him of being good friends with Bernard Sainz. Are they going to determine who a rider can talk to now?"

"What I find absolutely ridiculous is that Vandenbroucke received his licence with out any problems at the beginning of this year. Now they are beginning with this sort of thing. I thought that there is but one type of licence for any one category. Those who receive them have duties but also rights. Are there now two types of licenses being created? One that imposes restrictions in order to have a license, in the case of Frank Vandenbroucke not participating, for example, in the Tour of Flanders. In addition, they have no reason to impose these conditions. On what facts are they basing their decision? Things that they have read in the media? And what about other riders who have been caught doping in the past who are still riding freely and can take part in any race that they chose? There is no logic at all in the rules they have imposed on Vandenbroucke. It is for this reason that we will take the matter to court. We will contact our lawyers as quickly as possible," De Geyter explained.