The Dutch cyclist Thomas Dekker, 39, was recently a guest on the Dutch TV show “Casi di Beau.” In a house in Tuscany, he talked to the host Beau van Erven Dorens about his career as a professional cyclist. The aspect of his career related to the use of prohibited substances was also discussed.
Dekker’s career was overshadowed by doping. In 2009, it was discovered that EPO was found in Dekker’s body. He was 23 years old at the time. Dekker admitted to using doping and was suspended until July 1, 2011. After the suspension, he never reached his previous level.
” The first time I did it was very special,” says a candid Dekker. “This was with Eufemiano Fuentes, an important Spanish doctor. I didn’t speak Spanish, he didn’t speak English, so we communicated through gestures.”
“Everyone who was his client received a number that you had to write on the blood bag yourself. It wasn’t just cyclists, but also other athletes. When you picked up that bag, you knew you had written on it yourself. Because if you returned the wrong bag with the wrong blood type, you were dead…
“After I took that bag for the first time, I moved to Italy and won the first major race of the year (Tirreno-Adriatico in 2006). I sat on the edge of the bed and started crying alone. I had won, and there was a lot of relief, but I had to be cautious for an entire week. But the idea that from then on, this would be my life for the next 15 years devastated me,” concludes Dekker, before promptly requesting a change of subject in the interview.