Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jul 1998
Source: European, The 
Contact:  
Website: http://www.the-european.com/ 
Author: Michael Butcher
Note: "Shorter letters are preferred"

UNDERWORLD LINK TO DRUG SUPPLIERS

THE low Countries have become Europe's main distribution centre for
performance-enhancing drugs. In the Netherlands alone, the market is thought
to be worth more than Nfl 200 million ($lOOm) annually.

Three years ago Dutch tax authorities began inquiries into the financial
affairs of Wim Sanders formerly doctor to the Dutch PDM cycling team, which
was disbanded in 1993.

When they raided Sanders' house the tax squad found documents that led them
on a trail from a small provincial chemist's shop near the Belgian border to
an international web of drug suppliers linked to the underworld.

They also found an incriminating list of more than 60 clients from the world
of cycling, ice hockey and athletics. There had always been strong rumours
circulating about Sanders and the PDM team; his subsequent trial revealed in
more than 300 pages of evidence that the stories were true.

Sanders received a six-month jail sentence for defrauding the tax
authorities of Nfl 100,000. He had falsely claimed that he was treating
kidney patients but was receiving payment for the drugs from the health
service and then selling them to sportsmen and women.

The supply was not restricted to Sanders. The files found in his house
revealed an extensive web, naming chemists in the Netherlands, Belgium, and
Germany willing to supply drugs.

There is now little doubt in anyone's mind that the spate of more than 20
sudden deaths among cyclists in the Benelux countries in the early 1990s was
linked to the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs.

The stakes are high. A Belgian chemist Danny Leclere, under investigation
for being linked to an international drugs ring, was pulled in for
questioning by the police. Before they could take the matter further;
Leclere was found murdered in Amsterdam.

Last year a Ghent chemist, Kris Vanderstichele, alleged that he had supplied
the Festina team doctor, Eric Ryckaert, with EPO, a performance-enhancing
drug, in 1992.

At the time of his alleged association with Vanderstichele, Ryckaert was
working for the PDM team. When it was disbanded he joined Festina, which has
won the team race In the Tour de France for the last two years.

Another Belgian chemist, Willy Jeandarme, confirmed that he had also
supplied Ryckaert as well as squads in Belgium and Italy. Jeandarme gave an
insight into the thinking that underpins the system: "I gave them everything
they wanted, but only on prescription. As a chemist I have no business
inquiring what a doctor does with my product"

- ---
Checked-by: Melodi Cornett