Riders are not criminals says Merckx

Belgian cycling great Eddy Merckx says riders should not be treated like criminals in the war against doping. "Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human," Merckx told L'Equipe. The...

Belgian cycling great Eddy Merckx says riders should not be treated like criminals in the war against doping.

"Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human," Merckx told L'Equipe.

The International Cycling Union unveiled on Friday an anti-doping programme that will ask riders to contribute to the development of new tests and sign a document authorising DNA tests to help identify them when banned substances are found.

Merckx, who won the Tour de France five times between 1969 and 1974, said he would not have abided by the new anti-doping programme.

"I would not have given my DNA," said Merckx. "It could be done in case of a contractual problem between the rider and his employer. Otherwise, you just debase the rider by asking him for his DNA. Riders are not criminals."

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