Michael Boogerd has not reacted to an invitation from Jaak Fransen, Attorney for the Belgian Cycling Federation, to a conversation to talk about his doping use. “Instead I have hired a lawyer.” Boogerd told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Boogerd Continued, “The Belgian federation had the same proposal as the Dutch Doping Authority had. I will be suspended for a long period, or I will have to talk about other people. I refuse to do that. I rather be suspended for life.”

Even though Boogerd has already fully confessed to NOS, he will have to tell his story all over again to the Belgian Federation, because he was living in Belgium and riding under a Belgian license. A possible suspension will have consequences for his role within his new team, Roompot Orange Cycling Team.

After confessing publicly almost two years ago, Michael Boogerd has heard nothing from both the UCI and the Belgian Federation. Because of his involvement in the new Dutch team, Boogerd decided to call the UCI a few months ago, to ask for an update on his case.

“The only one I was able to get on the phone was the secretary”, Boogerd explained. He later continued, “She promised me that I would be called back, but that never happened. Some time later, I received an email from the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC). They asked if I wanted to talk, which I did. They told me that I had three options. Call the Belgian Federation, wait or talk with the CIRC about other people. I didn’t had the impression that, after all this time, the Belgians were really interested in persecuting me. So I decided to wait.”

Boogerd concluded, “If I get suspended, I will appeal. I deserve to be suspended, but not after 18 months of uncertainty. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have started a new team.”