Shari Bossuyt has claimed her innocence after testing positive for Letrozole, suggesting that she is a victim of contamination and likening her situation to that of a prisoner falsely accused of murder.

The anti-doping case came to light on Sunday when the Canyon-SRAM team announced that it had suspended the Belgian rider from racing after he tested positive at the Tour de Normandie in France on January 19.

Letrozole is used primarily to treat estrogen-sensitive cancers in postmenopausal women and is a "specified" substance, so the UCI will not automatically impose a provisional suspension, but if an anti-doping rule violation is upheld, a ban will be imposed.

Bossuit, who last raced in Paris-Roubaix Femme in early April, shortly after extending his contract with Canyon-Slam, mentioned the matter at a press conference in Zweveghem on Monday morning.

"I got into an unreal situation. I have never touched Letrozole and I have never consciously used it. According to Sporza, "This was the first time I had ever heard of Letrozole.

"It feels unfair. It's like being thrown in jail for murder when you didn't commit the murder. That's how I feel."

Boshui began by explaining to the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) how the substance got into her system and explained her determination to fight the trial and clear her name.

"Everything shows that we are dealing with the contamination," she insisted.

"I hope we can quickly clarify this to the necessary authorities. And above all, that we can prove that we are not cheating," she said.

Bostuit referred to her compatriot Toon Aerts, who was banned for two years last year for testing positive for letrozole. Aerts attended Monday's press conference, sitting next to Bostuit's mother; the two are managed by the same agent, Yannick Prévost.

Prevost has already worked extensively to provide a plausible explanation for Aerts' claims of innocence, something that gave him a head start in defending Bossuite.

"We've been working on this file for a year. It's very difficult to prove that it's contamination from food; it's very difficult to prove that it's contamination from food."

"We are on one path, but we can't materialize it yet. What we can say is that Shari and Thune tested positive after the competition in Normandy, Flamanville to be exact." [Letrozole is used to fertilize cows and sheep. This is a relatively new technology. At the moment, it is still an unproven hypothesis. Because the food industry has not yet tested for letrozole."

Prevost asked UCI and WADA to investigate the case, arguing that "Shari and Toon are victims, not users of dopers."