Eric Rijkaert
Encyclopedia
Eric Rijkaert also written Eric Rijckaert (1943 –27 January 2001) was born in Oostwinkel, Belgium
). He was a former Belgian
sports physician and worked with the Festina cycling team
. He was said to be at the heart of the Festina affair of 1998 that led to the withdrawal of the entire Festina team during the 1998 Tour de France
. Rijkaert was the team doctor
from 1993 until the Festina affair in 1998.
was being introduced to the professional peloton by doctors such as Francesco Conconi
and his former assistant Michele Ferrari
.
Rijkaert was firstly the team doctor of the PDM
team from 1986 to 1992. After that he joined the Festina team where he stayed as doctor until the Festina Affair of the 1998 Tour de France
. Rijkaert was said to have proposed the use of EPO to some of the riders. Rijkaert was known amongst the riders as "Dr Fiat Punto" after the "Punto
" (a small model of Fiat automobile). This name came about in comparison to the famous Italian physican Michele Ferrari. This was because of his carefulness compared to the high performances yielded by Ferrari. Rijkaert would not let the riders blood haematocrit level go above 53-54%. Rijkaert was under pressure from team management to go higher and further with doping of the riders.
Rijkaert together with Bruno Roussel were arrested during the 1998 Tour de France in the town of Cholet. Rijkaert spent 100 days in jail while suffering from lung cancer
which he stated in a book he released in Dutch called The Festina Affair or De Zaak Festina. This ordeal during the diagnosis of his lung cancer was said to have deeply affected Rijkaert mentally and physically. His book attempted to open a discussion about doping in cycling. In October 2000, Rijkaert was fined around 15,000 euros for breaking the law against doping.
Rijkaert died from lung cancer in January 2001.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). He was a former Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
sports physician and worked with the Festina cycling team
Festina cycling team
Festina is a former professional cycling team that was active in the professional peloton from 1989 to 2001. The team was sponsored by the watch manufacturers Festina Lotus AV.-Beginnings:...
. He was said to be at the heart of the Festina affair of 1998 that led to the withdrawal of the entire Festina team during the 1998 Tour de France
1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...
. Rijkaert was the team doctor
Team physician
The team physician for a sports team is the physician who is in charge of coordinating the medical staff and medical services for a sports team. They are also subject to activities involving team building...
from 1993 until the Festina affair in 1998.
History
Rijkaert was active in cycling when EPOErythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
was being introduced to the professional peloton by doctors such as Francesco Conconi
Francesco Conconi
Francesco Conconi is an Italian sports doctor and scientist, with disciples such as Michele Ferrari and Luigi Cecchini. Conconi is a Professor at the University of Ferrara in Italy where he heads the Centro Studi Biomedici Applicati allo Sport or Biomedical Research Institute...
and his former assistant Michele Ferrari
Michele Ferrari
Michele Ferrari is an Italian physician, cycling coach and author.-Biography:Ferrari was born in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, where he still lives...
.
Rijkaert was firstly the team doctor of the PDM
PDM (cycling team)
PDM-Concorde also PDM-Ultima was a Dutch professional cycling team from 1986 until the end of 1992. Gin-MG was co-sponsor in Spanish races and Cidona was co-sponsor in the 1991 Nissan Classic. The team was sponsored by Philips Dupont Magnetics, a joint venture between the electronics company,...
team from 1986 to 1992. After that he joined the Festina team where he stayed as doctor until the Festina Affair of the 1998 Tour de France
1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, also called the Tour du Dopage , was marred by doping scandals throughout known as the Festina affair, starting with the arrest of Willy Voet, a soigneur in the French Festina team. Voet was traveling into France when he was arrested and found with large quantities of...
. Rijkaert was said to have proposed the use of EPO to some of the riders. Rijkaert was known amongst the riders as "Dr Fiat Punto" after the "Punto
Fiat Punto
The Fiat Punto is a supermini produced by the Italian manufacturer, Fiat, since 1993.-1st generation :Internally codenamed Project 176, the Punto was announced in September 1993 and launched in late 1993 as a replacement for the ageing Fiat Uno. The Fiat Punto was voted European Car of the Year...
" (a small model of Fiat automobile). This name came about in comparison to the famous Italian physican Michele Ferrari. This was because of his carefulness compared to the high performances yielded by Ferrari. Rijkaert would not let the riders blood haematocrit level go above 53-54%. Rijkaert was under pressure from team management to go higher and further with doping of the riders.
Rijkaert together with Bruno Roussel were arrested during the 1998 Tour de France in the town of Cholet. Rijkaert spent 100 days in jail while suffering from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
which he stated in a book he released in Dutch called The Festina Affair or De Zaak Festina. This ordeal during the diagnosis of his lung cancer was said to have deeply affected Rijkaert mentally and physically. His book attempted to open a discussion about doping in cycling. In October 2000, Rijkaert was fined around 15,000 euros for breaking the law against doping.
Rijkaert died from lung cancer in January 2001.