Toon Aerts and his lawyer admitted to searching for a needle in a haystack to prove that a tainted food supplement caused the Belgian rider to test positive for the testosterone-enhancing drug Letrozole in an anti-doping test.

On Thursday, the cyclocross rider revealed that he will be banned for two years after the UCI presented its ruling before a final anti-doping tribunal hearing; the UCI acknowledged that Aerts did not voluntarily ingest Letrozole, and instead of a four-year suspension instead of a four-year suspension.

However, to further reduce or avoid the suspension, Aerts and his attorney would have to prove Letrozole contamination.

"We found the contaminated supplement, but in an opened container. To be legally binding, contaminated supplements must be found in sealed containers. And unfortunately, we have not found any to date. So officially we have not found the source of the contamination," explained Yannick Prévost, manager of Arts. [It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. I believe we have already analyzed everything. It has become almost impossible for athletes to prove their innocence. We continue to hope for a reduced sentence, but mentally we must also prepare for the scenario where he will not be allowed to return to racing until February 16, 2024."

Aerts tested positive for letrozole metabolites 10 days before the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Arkansas last January, finishing sixth. He could be stripped of this result as well as his victory in Lille on February 6 and his third place at the Gerbl Superprestige.

Letrozole is considered a "specified substance" and does not have to serve a mandatory interim suspension. Aerts could have continued to race in 2022 pending a final ruling, but he chose to voluntarily suspend his racing activities in order to resolve this matter with the UCI. He was suspended by his team, Baloise Trek Lions.

His positive test reportedly showed a letrozole concentration of 2.4 nanograms per milliliter, and multiple anti-doping tests conducted before and after the test confirmed negative results. Because letrozole has no threshold, even an unintentional positive due to contamination can lead to a ban.

All the athletes can do is prove that there was contamination, go through the disciplinary process, and perhaps appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"The fact that it was unintentional makes it very difficult for me to accept the punishment," Aerts said, often in tears, after reading his statement.

"Telling my parents, girlfriend, and brother the news was hell. Fortunately, they always believed in me and gave me a lot of support."

"Injustice should be punished, but this feels like pure injustice. We need to do something about this. I don't understand how this is the way we work in 2022."

Because Aerts chose not to race upon testing positive, the final ban will include the time necessary to complete the disciplinary process. If he receives a two-year ban, Aerts would only be able to return to racing on February 16, 2024, the end of the cyclocross season.

"I will continue to do everything I can to prove my innocence. I am confident that I will be able to race cyclocross again." I am currently facing many uncertainties, but I know that my second career will begin on February 16, 2024 at the latest."