Marion Cico admitted to using EPO in an exclusive interview with "Stade 2" that aired Sunday. The French rider, who tested positive for the banned substance last June, is seeking a reduction in his suspension, claiming that he decided to buy and use the drug after months of mental harassment and abuse from Marc Bracke, team director at Dolcini Van Eyck.

"I tried to protect myself by lying. Sico told Stud 2. 'But once you tell the truth, you are much better, you sleep better, and you can greet the morning with a little pride in what you did.'

Sico has competed in the professional world for four seasons, the last two with the Belgian team Dorcini Van Eyck in 2018 and 2019. She tested positive for EPO in a test conducted at the French time trial championships on June 27, 2019. She finished 10th in the time trial and 9th in the road race. She was scheduled to compete in Le Tour de France La Course, but withdrew from the race when she was informed that her A-sample tested positive for EPO.

At this time, she revealed on the Directvelo website that she had tested positive and was waiting for the B sample to be tested. She initially claimed that she had done nothing wrong and that women have elevated levels of EPO during their menstrual cycles. Later, through social media, Cicotto confirmed that her B sample also tested positive for EPO.

However, in an interview with Stud 2 on Sunday, Cicott Googled "EPO purchase" and admitted that she purchased 10 vials through a Chinese website in May 2019. She said she took the pills on June 24. She said she made that decision after months of mental harassment and abuse from team coach Bracke.

"I deserve to be sanctioned, but I want a lighter sentence because of the circumstances with the sports director. It wasn't really Marion who did that," she told Stade 2.

Stade 2 obtained a series of text-based messages between Sico and Bracke, in which Bracke requested before and after pictures of her in a bikini. He also asked her to keep it a secret. According to Cicotte, Bracke had requested these images every Monday since November 2018 to figure out her weight, stating that he thought she was fat and would not put her on the roster to race without the pictures.

"He said he then erased them, but I don't know about that..." She told Stud 2.

"If I could compete, the sporting director would give me the same importance as any other athlete.

"I was tired of the high-level world. It had reached saturation and was nearing its end."

Cycling News called Bracke for comment on Cicotte's allegations, but received no response to a detailed message prior to the publication of this article.

Dolcini Van Eyck issued a statement on his Facebook page on Tuesday, March 10, denying Cicott's allegations. The team accused Cicott of lying, feigning depression, and "using the actual #MeToo-mood" to shorten his doping suspension.

"We have a right to expect a professional attitude from our riders, and coming back overweight after the winter is not exactly what you want, especially if you claim to be a rider for climbing.

"In this situation, the sport director, Marc Bracke, made the mistake (and he did not lie about it and admitted it) of requesting photos to track the progress of her condition/overweight. This used to be a common practice. Many in the cycling community know this. And it was happening far less often than Marion Sico now claims.

"She never complained about this, nor did any of the other riders or other staff (including several women). If she had said once that she felt uncomfortable about this, it would never have happened again."

"I am sure that the team would have been more than happy to help her.

The team's full statement can be read here.

The French Cycling Federation (FCC) announced in an official statement on Sunday that it has requested that an investigation be opened by the UCI into the questionable conduct by the Dolcini Van Eyck Sport team, particularly with regard to Sico.

In its press release, the FFC stated, "Without prejudging anyone's guilt, it is a matter of taking the necessary steps to shed light and help discourage possible authors of unacceptable behavior. Rather than condoning any doping practices, the French Cycling Federation stands firmly against any situation of violence or harassment and expresses its determination to act with the utmost severity to protect its athletes."

The UCI has already launched a formal investigation into the Dolcini Van Eyck Sports Women's Team. Canadian Maggie Coles-Lister alleged sexual assault by a team assistant in an interview with Le Monde and Cyclingnews in 2017. Sarah Youmans of the United States filed a formal complaint with the UCI Ethics Commission citing the UCI Code of Ethics: Protection of Physical and Mental Integrity - Appendix 1 covering sexual harassment and abuse.

Youmans alleged that during contract negotiations in October 2019, team director Bracke She alleges that she was subjected to inappropriate behavior from She told Le Monde and Cycling News that Bracke requested that she send him images of herself "in panties and bra" during negotiations to join the Dolcini Van Eyck Sport women's team.

Le Monde viewed the message exchange, in which Bracke asked Youmans to send him a picture of himself in a bikini and said, "Don't be shy. This is the beginning of a relationship of trust."

Bracquée said that she was "very happy" with the photos and that she was "very happy.

Bracke responded in writing to Le Monde, denying the allegations. 'For professional reasons. I am not interested in pictures of women in their underwear," Bracke told Le Monde.

Cycling News reached out to Bracke by phone for comment on the allegations by Youmans and Coles-Lister, but he did not return detailed messages prior to the publication of this article.

In a team statement from Dolcini Van Eyck released Tuesday, March 10, the team said Bracke is cooperating with the UCI investigation.

"We also confirm that our team and Marc Bracke are prepared to cooperate fully with any investigation by the UCI or any other competent authority, but regret that Marc Bracke's trial already seems to be taking place in the media before he has even had the slightest opportunity to defend himself We regret that Marc Bracke's trial seems to have already taken place in the media before he has even had the slightest opportunity to defend himself".