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You are here: Home News Community News Cycling: Belgian cyclist died of double pulmonary embolism

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19/10/2009Cycling: Belgian cyclist died of double pulmonary embolism

Belgian cyclist Franck Vandenbroucke died of a double pulmonary embolism combined with an existing heart problem, autopsy shows.

Vandenbroucke, 34, was found dead earlier last week in his hotel room in the Senegalese resort of Saly where he had been on holiday with cyclist friend Fabio Polazzi.

According to the Het Laatste Nieuws and Het Nieuwsblad papers, investigators concluded that Vandenbroucke died a natural death and his body had now been released for a return to Belgium.

The rider suffered a "double pulmonary embolism as well as having an existing heart problems," Salobe Ngingie, the public prosecutor for the Thies region overseeing the probe, told Het Nieuwsblad.

"The autopsy showed that the deceased had several injection marks on his left arm," Ngingie said, adding that a syringe, alcohol and medicines were found in Vandenbroucke's hotel room.

Vandenbroucke made his professional debut in 1994 and recorded 51 victories, including the 1999 Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic, his career highlight.

In 2002, Vandenbroucke was twice stopped by police under the influence of alcohol at the wheel of a car. Later that year, a police search at his home uncovered a large quantity of doping substances.

Vandenbroucke had suffered from depression and two years ago tried to commit suicide after his wife said she was divorcing him.

In 2003, when he rode for the Quick Step team, Vandenbroucke appeared to be on the way back after a second-place finish in the prestigious Tour of Flanders classic, but he sunk into depression the following year.

AFP/Expatica


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