Denise Betsema

Denise Betsema
	Betsema in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Denise Betsema
Nickname	"Denise Overseas"
Born	23 January 1993 (age 28); Oudeschild, Netherlands
Team information
Current team	Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal
Discipline	Cyclo-cross; Mountain biking;
Role	Rider
Professional teams
2011	Giant Dealerteams
2018–	Marlux–Bingoal
Medal record
Representing Netherlands
Women's Cyclo-cross
World Championships
European Championships

Denise Betsema (born 23 January 1993) is a Dutch cyclo-cross cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Cyclo-cross team Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal.^[1]

Career[]

In October 2018 Betsema joined the professional cyclo-cross team Marlux–Bingoal. In the season 2018–2019 she won the crosses at Poprad, Neerpelt, Aigle, Hittnau, Lutterbach, Wachtebeke, Koksijde, Eschenbach, Antwerpen, Otegem, Maldegem, Middelkerke, Hulst, Leuven and Oostmalle. She also won the bronze medal at the European championships.

Positive drug test[]

On 5 April 2019, it was announced that she had tested positive for the use of steroids in a drug test on 27 January 2019 during the World Cup in Hoogerheide. Betsema denies the facts but she was temporarily suspended by her team awaiting the outcome of the counter-expertise.^[2] On 16 May, it was announced her B sample was also positive for steroids.^[3]

On 20 January 2020, the UCI announced that besides in Hoogerheide, she had also failed a doping test in Middelkerke.^[4] The UCI proposed the rider a retroactive sanction of six months suspension, starting from 5 April 2019, which was the day her team voluntary put her on non-active status. Betsema also forfeits all results from Hoogerheide on, which meant the loss of her 2019 victories in Maldegem, Middelkerke, Hulst, Leuven, and Oostmalle. Betsema accepted the sanction proposed by the UCI but she and her legal counsels are still of the opinion she was the victim of a tainted food supplement.^[5]^[6]