Marion Sico believes that after the Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage (AFLD) considered the details of the harassment complaint filed with the UCI Ethics Committee against Marc Bracke, former team manager of Dolcini Van Eyck, a two-year The suspension was reduced, and we believe that "justice has been done."

"(Marion Sico) is relieved and pleased that justice has been done. Every athlete knows how difficult it is to get doping sanctions reduced or overturned.

Diaconu is handling Sico's harassment case, which was brought before the UCI Ethics Commission last March. In an email to Cycling News on Wednesday, she gave Sicotte's reaction to AFLD's recent decision to reduce her two-year suspension.

Sicot tested positive for EPO in a test conducted by the AFLD at the French time trial championships on June 27, 2019, and was provisionally suspended on July 18, 2019. She initially denied taking the banned drug, but later admitted it in an exclusive interview with "Stade 2" broadcast last March, revealing that she purchased 10 vials of the drug through a Chinese website in May 2019 after Googling "buy EPO". She said she took the pills on June 24.

Cicotte claimed that her decision to purchase and use EPO was made after experiencing months of psychological abuse by Bracke and requested that the French anti-doping authority, AFLD, reduce her suspension.

"Again, I made a mistake and I deserve to be suspended.

"I have nothing to hide, so I went on TV and told all the details of my story.

L'Equipe magazine reported that the AFLD sanctioning committee had initially proposed a four-year ban, but reduced it to two years in light of her harassment case.

Diaconu said Sico will be eligible to compete and resume her cycling activities on July 19, 2021.

"That is why this decision is rare and good news for all athletes," Diaconu wrote on behalf of Cicotte. 'Because it finally sends a message that the sports authorities have sent out that sexual harassment and its devastating consequences are a serious problem and that athletes must be protected against it.' More importantly, this decision sent the message that if athletes speak out, their voices will be heard."

The UCI Ethics Committee opened an investigation against Dolcini Van Eyck and Bracke after two riders, including Sico, alleged that Bracke had requested photos of them in "panties and bras" and "bikinis."

According to Diaconu, the scope of Cicotte's complaint alleged sexual harassment and recidivism under aggravated circumstances, including Bracke's written demand that Cicotte wear a "small bikini" or "string bikini" and over 20 nude photographs taken from front and rear angles The allegations included Allegations included sexist remarks about whether she was married, had a boyfriend or girlfriend, or slept alone, as well as examples of embarrassing invitations to spend the night at his house when he was at a nearby competition.

The UCI announced last October that its Ethics Committee had found Bracke guilty of violating the Code of Ethics after formal complaints of harassment were filed by two female riders. The case is now being reviewed by the UCI Disciplinary Committee, which will determine sanctions.

Cycling News has reached out to Bracke and the Dolcini Van Eyck team for comment on Sico's allegations. However, neither has responded to our detailed message.

In response to Sico's allegations in March, the Dolcini Van Eyck team issued a statement admitting that Bracke had regularly requested photos of Sico in a bikini, but claimed: "This has been common practice for some time and is known to many in the cycling community." He claimed. At the time, the team also accused Cicotte of pretending to be depressed and "using the actual #MeToo-mood" to shorten his doping suspension.

Diaconu said he was satisfied with the Ethics Committee's decision but regretted that there was limited communication between the UCI and the complaining athlete during the proceedings. [Cycling News understands that the person who filed the complaint with the UCI Ethics Committee is not a party.]

"We also look forward to receiving the UCI Disciplinary Committee's decision regarding Mr. Bracke.

"Finally, in light of this incident, we hope that the UCI will pay greater attention to the rights of victims in such cases. At the moment, according to UCI regulations, victims are not allowed to participate in the proceedings concerning their own cases. They are not informed of the decision except through press releases. For the sake of the athlete, this should be changed in the future."

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