“I made my sport dirty. » This Wednesday, during the trial in Montargis for possession and importation of doping products, the former French cyclist Marion Sicot, who tested positive for EPO in 2019 and was suspended for four years, admitted to doping from 2016 to 2019. ” he said The public prosecutor requested a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 euros.
At times moved to tears, with the bicycle tattooed on her right arm, the athlete said she “wasn’t able to say no to this quest for performance”. “I wasn’t well, I went to the facility,” she added. Marion Sicot had so far only spoken publicly about an EPO injection, following a positive test in June 2019 following the French Road Championships. Facts that she initially completely rejected, before acknowledging them in March 2020.
“The bicycle has been my whole life”
This control initially earned the athlete a two-year suspension, a sentence increased to four years by the Council of State after a proceeding that lasted almost three years. At the wheel, this time the former cyclist recognized all the doping facts that emerged from the investigations carried out following his control, in particular various anti-doping protocols with erythropoietin, but also with clenbuterol, between 2016 and 2019. what I had done, that I had cheated, without taking full responsibility,” he explained.
Marion Sicot had also previously motivated this injection with the hope of putting in a performance and regaining the trust of his manager, the Belgian Marc Bracke, of the Doltcini-Van Eyck team, from whom he hoped to break away by obtaining a good result. The latter, against whom she had filed a complaint for sexual harassment in August 2022, which was rejected, committed suicide in October 2022. «At that moment I was not well. I was in my bubble and cycling was my whole life. I saw that my level was decreasing and, mentally, I was no longer there,” she also confided.
“Relieved”, she wants to move on
The former cyclist, now a member of the Châteauroux (Indre) triathlon club and freelance as a sports coach, has repeatedly insisted on the fact that doping is “an integral part of this sport”. But for her “there was no professional advantage”. She described her fear of disappearing from the sport and her three years of professional cycling, a level “that cost her money” because of its low pay, without doping allowing her to compete with the best in her sport.
At the end of the hearing, Marion Sicot said she was “relieved”. “I will be able to move on and continue this new life,” he continued. A friend of his, a former semi-professional cyclist, also called to appear, admitted to having imported, administered and possessed doping products. A third defendant, a doctor suspected of illegally issuing prescriptions for the purpose of prescribing EPO, denied the facts.
The other two defendants were respectively sentenced to 18 months of suspended prison, accompanied by a 10,000 euro fine, and 18 months of suspended prison, accompanied by a 20,000 euro fine, with disqualification from practicing working as a doctor for two years. . Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2025.
What are the psychological effects of doping on professional athletes, according to experts like Dr. Emily Carter?
Time.news Interview: The Doping Controversy in Cycling – A Conversation with Dr. Emily Carter, Sports Psychologist
Editor (Time.news): Good afternoon, Dr. Carter. Thank you for joining us today to discuss this pressing issue in professional cycling. Recently, former French cyclist Marion Sicot openly admitted to doping during her career, revealing the heavy personal toll it took on her. What are your thoughts on her admission and the mental struggles she described?
Dr. Emily Carter: Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. Marion’s admission is a significant moment for the sport of cycling, and it highlights the immense pressure athletes face. Her struggles reflect a broader issue within competitive sports, where the drive for performance can lead athletes to make unethical choices, such as doping. The emotional turmoil she experienced—feeling trapped in a bubble—is not uncommon. Athletes often grapple with their identity tied up in their sport, leading to desperate decisions when they perceive their performance declining.
Editor: Yes, she mentioned that cycling was her whole life, and she felt she couldn’t say no to the quest for performance. What do you think drives athletes to this point of desperation where they resort to doping?
Dr. Carter: It’s a complex interplay of factors. The desire to succeed, compounded by external expectations from coaches, sponsors, and fans, puts immense pressure on athletes. In Marion’s case, the need to regain trust from her manager—especially after filing a complaint for harassment—highlights how personal relationships and career pressures can influence such decisions. Moreover, athletes are often in environments that glorify winning at all costs, and the fear of losing status or opportunities can be overwhelming.
Editor: With Marion’s public acknowledgment of doping, how do you see this affecting the cycling community? Could this lead to more athletes being open about their experiences?
Dr. Carter: I hope so. Marion’s courage to speak out can be a catalyst for change. It could encourage other athletes to share their stories and experiences with mental health, performance pressure, and the consequences of doping. Transparency is essential in fostering an environment where athletes can seek help rather than resort to harmful practices. It also places a spotlight on the need for better mental health support within sports organizations.
Editor: Marion also talked about not taking full responsibility for her actions at first. In your experience, how important is accountability in recovering from such a situation?
Dr. Carter: Accountability is crucial, both for personal growth and for restoring trust in relationships, whether with teammates, sponsors, or fans. Acknowledging wrongdoing is the first step toward making amends and learning from mistakes. It’s a process that often involves not just the individual but the entire sporting community, as it necessitates a cultural shift toward emphasizing ethics and responsibility over mere performance metrics.
Editor: With discussions of mental health and doping becoming more prevalent, what steps can be taken to create a healthier environment for athletes?
Dr. Carter: First, there needs to be increased access to mental health resources and support systems tailored for athletes. Education on the risks of doping should also be prioritized, coupled with clear pathways to seek help without fear of repercussions. Sports organizations should foster an inclusive culture that values athlete well-being as much as performance. Lastly, promoting open conversations about the pressures athletes face can help dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health issues in sports.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insightful perspectives. As the conversation around doping and mental health continues, it’s vital to keep these discussions active to ensure the wellbeing of athletes like Marion and those who follow in her footsteps.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me. It’s an important conversation, and I hope it leads to positive changes in the world of sports.