Former Rabobank and Team Sky doctor Geert Leinders has been handed a lifetime ban by the US Anti-Doping Acency (USADA), Anti-Doping Denmark (ADD), and Anti-Doping Authority Netherlands (Dopingautoriteit). The decision is mainly based on testimonies from Michael Rasmussen and Levi Leipheimer.

“After a hearing at which the detailed evidence, including eyewitness testimony, corroborating documentation and an expert analysis of abnormal blood values of cyclists was presented, the independent Arbitration Panel found that Leinders possessed, trafficked, and administered banned performance enhancing substances and methods without any legitimate medical need, including EPO, blood transfusion paraphernalia, testosterone, insulin, DHEA, LH and corticosteroids to athletes under his care, and was complicit in other anti-doping rule violations,” a statement on USADA’s website read.

Leinders worked for Rabobank until 2009. He briefly worked for Sky between 2010 and 2012 but when allegations against the Dutchman first surfaced, the British team decided not to renew his contract after having carried out an investigation into the recruitment process.

“It shocks the conscious that a Board member and team doctor would abuse his trusted position by overseeing and participating in this type of dangerous and fraudulent activity,” said USADA CEO Travis Tygart. “This case also demonstrates the global commitment of independent anti-doping organizations to ensuring that those who break the rules in an attempt to win and to profit from their cheating are held accountable. As we said from the beginning of our cycling investigation, ridding those in the system who attempt to justify doping as a means to an end is the only way to truly clean up cycling for current and future generations of athletes.”

“Athlete eyewitness testimony can play an important and powerful role in the investigative process, and in this case, Michael Rasmussen’s cooperation and testimony was integral to the outcome,” said ADD Director Lone Hansen. “This case was an important opportunity for ADD to collaborate with our partners at USADA and Anti-Doping Authority Netherlands to pursue a level playing field in cycling, and we know that continued global collaboration is the only way to provide a level playing field for all athletes in all sports.”

USADA presented video testimony from former Rabobank riders Michael Rasmussen and Levi Leipheimer. In Rasmussen’s testimony he stated that Leinders first helped him administer insulin from 2003-2005 and that the product was kept on the Rabobank bus during several Grand Tours. USADA reports that Leinders took a blood sample from Rasmussen’s father in order to determine whether the rider’s parent was a suitable candidate for blood transfusions.

Leipheimer claimed that Leinders had provided him with testosterone, EPO and cortisone during his two years at Rabobank.

Leinders will be prohibited from training or advising athletes and participating at any event sanctioned by USA Cycling, the International Cycling Union (UCI), or any other WADA Code signatory.