Can a positive test at the World Cup be hidden? “Our ethics don’t allow that” | Cyclocross World Championships

“Everyone is healthy and well”, was the important message from Kris Van der Mieren at the press moment yesterday. “We have a history, but at the moment everyone is okay.”

With that history, Van der Mieren refers to Quinten Hermans, one of the Belgian spearheads. He tested positive on Sunday at the mandatory test and saw his World Cup drilled through the nose.

Hermans expressed his disappointment on Wednesday. He argued that he was light positive and that his test’s Ct value was high, insinuating the end of an infection.

“You cannot be lightly pregnant,” says federal doctor Van der Mieren. “We did a test on Sunday (23/01). With a positive result, the quarantine according to the Belgian protocol started on Monday (24/01) and it would last 7 days. The 7th day is the day of the World Cup (30 /01).”

“So we have to adapt to that. We have to undergo the rules. It is possible that Quinten was at the end of his infection, but that is very unfortunate.”

“He could only short-circuit that if he had had a recovery certificate. It is very unfortunate that the infection was not noticed at the beginning, then he would have had a certificate.”

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For the riders it was especially important to test negative before the trip to the US. A negative wiper was necessary to get on the plane, the rules are less strict on American territory, including those of the International Cycling Union UCI.

In Belgians, PCR tests are only taken if there is a clear reason for this. No negative PCR result is required to participate in the World Cup.

Suppose: a Belgian participant tests positive shortly before the start of his or her World Cup. Will that result be revealed or will the idea bubble up to sweep that self-test under the table?

A staunch federal doctor Kris Van der Mieren: “The protocol is very good in my head. We must attach consequences to a positive rapid test, if only to protect the athlete.”

“Making maximum effort with a viral infection can jeopardize your career and your life. So our ethics don’t allow that. We do self-tests and we certainly don’t bury our heads in the sand.”

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