Marion Sicot, the former French professional cyclist, faced the opening day of her trial on 20th November in Montargis, France. The 32-year-old, who tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) during the French National Road Championships in 2019, is charged with importing and possessing banned substances, including EPO and clenbuterol, from 2016 to 2019.
Sicot admitted during the trial that her decision to dope stemmed from feeling under pressure to perform and regain the confidence of her manager, Marc Bracke, at the Belgian team Doltcini-Van Eyck. She described the manager’s controlling behaviour, which included being sidelined from the team after refusing to send him intimate photos. In court, Sicot explained her decision to inject EPO three days before the 2019 Championships, where she finished ninth. Bracke was later suspended for 3 years by the UCI Disciplinary Commission in 2021 before committing suicide later in 2022.
“I regret cheating and lying. I dirtied my sport,” Sicot confessed. “I took the easy way out.”
The prosecutor argued that Sicot had knowingly engaged in doping practices over several years, a claim supported by her purchasing banned substances online and through intermediaries. Her former semi-professional cyclist friend, who admitted to assisting her, is also standing trial.
Legal implications and sentencing proposals
The prosecution has recommended a 12-month suspended prison sentence for Sicot, alongside a €5,000 fine. Her lawyer argued that she had already paid a heavy price, losing her professional cycling career due to the suspension, which was extended to four years in 2022.
Two co-defendants also face charges in the case. Sicot’s acquaintance, who allegedly facilitated her use of the drugs, risks the same sentence as her but with a higher fine of €10,000. A doctor accused of forging prescriptions for EPO is facing a proposed 18-month suspended sentence and a €20,000 fine. The doctor has denied these allegations.
A bid to move forward
Sicot, now a triathlete, expressed her hope to “turn the page” on this chapter of her life. Speaking to Le Télégramme earlier in the year, she stated, “I’ve already paid the maximum penalty in sport. I understand this is the legal process I must face to fully close this episode.”
The trial has also cast a spotlight on doping regulations in France. While athletes are not criminally prosecuted for using banned substances, trafficking and possession are serious offences, punishable by up to five years in prison and substantial fines.
The verdict is scheduled for 22nd January 2025. Sicot continues to train and compete in triathlons, hoping to rebuild her athletic career beyond professional cycling.
