Leukemans to keep on appealing

Björn Leukemans will continue to appeal his two-year suspension for testosterone use. The disciplinary council of the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community) this week upheld the suspension it had issued in January, but the former Predictor-Lotto rider insisted that he "didn't have any choice" but to appeal the verdict to a higher authority.

"If I don't do anything, then it is over and out anyway," he told belga. "The new hearings will probably cost a lot of money. But what is money? I only want to prove my honesty and to get a pronouncement to that effect. If I don't succeed with the Council of State, then perhaps I will have a chance with the European Court. I know that I am doing the right thing, otherwise I would not continue to proceed."

The 30 year-old tested positive for synthetic testosterone in an out-of-competition control shortly before the World Championships last September. He claimed that the positive test was due to a medication given to him by a team doctor.