Museeuw handed two-year suspension
 |  Belgian legend Museeuw has been handed a two-year ban |
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BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The Belgian cycling association have handed out two-year bans to three riders caught up in Jose Landuyt affair, the vet who admitted selling performance-enhancing drugs.
They include Johan Museeuw, one of the most renowned one-day performers in the sport until his retirement earlier this year.
The others are Chris Peers and Jo Planckaert. All three were also fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($8,000).
Museeuw appeared in August before the Belgian association after being questioned by police about a prescription drug found when they raided his house over a year ago.
Police searched 20 homes in all after Landuyt was suspected of supplying hormones to cyclists. Landuyt does not come under the association's powers and has not been sanctioned.
Museeuw, 38, retired in April after 16 years as a professional with 11 classic victories to his name.
Since then he has been acting as a public relations officer for his former Quickstep-Davitamon team. Cycling's governing body the UCI must now decide whether he can continue in the role.
"That is a question only the UCI can answer," said Belgian association spokesman Tom van Damme.
In a separate case, world champion mountain biker Filip Meirhaeghe has been handed a 15-month ban after testing positive for EPO two days before winning a World Cup race in June.
Meirhaeghe would have been a top contender for a gold medal at the Athens Olympics but quit the sport in July after admitting testing positive.
He has also been fined 5,000 Swiss francs and if he re-offends in the next 15 months a four-year ban will be implemented.
