March 28, 2006 – Following the Belgian police drug raids last Thursday at the homes of a number of elite cyclists Team Unibet.com has halted contract negotiations with Dave Bruylandts and has temporarily suspended rider Geert Omloop. Initial police reports indicate that doping products were found in ten of the fifteen homes raided, though police have not specified what products were found, nor if the two Unibet.com riders were among the guilty.

Both Bruylandts, currently in his last week of an earlier 18-month suspension under similiar charges, and 2003 Beligian Road Champion Omloop are claiming innocence. Bruylandts was planning to begin his pro career again on April 1st and was finalizing his contract. Omloop will not be able to join any team until his name is cleared.

In a communique issued by Team Unibet.com and quoted in an Associated Press article, the team “presumes the innocence of the two riders mentioned, and has temporarily suspended negotiations in good faith.” Team Unibet.com manager, Koen Terry, was quoted as saying, “Should illegal substances be found, implicated riders will be immediately dismissed and / or their contracts cancelled.”

Belgian police have indicated that it will take weeks before the substances found in the cyclists’ homes will be fully analyzed.