Pyrrhic victory for Berden

Belgian cyclo-crosser Ben Berden, who was caught for using EPO last year, will not serve any additional punishment for the use of illegal drugs, save for his current 15 month ban from cycling. The court in Tongeren, Belgium, determined that after a year-long investigation, while at the same time ordering Berden to pay nearly €60,000 in legal costs.

Although Berden will not end up in jail for using an illegal substance, he still faces a big task to raise the money. "I was baffled when I learned of it," he told Sportwereld.be. "I don't know how to even start. This morning I still was thinking to pick up the threads after my suspension runs out in April. Now it's all gone, nothing makes sense."

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