Femke Van den Driessche

athlete

Femke Van den Driessche is a Belgian cyclist who gained notoriety for being the first athlete to be sanctioned for technological doping. During the U23 World Championships in 2016, she was discovered using a manipulated bicycle, leading to a six-year ban imposed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Her case highlighted the issue of technological doping in sports, emphasizing that athletes bear responsibility for their equipment, regardless of whether they are aware of any tampering. Van den Driessche's situation has sparked discussions on the enforcement of fair play and the ethical implications of doping in competitive sports.