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But, this year he won't be taking all that into the cross country - and that's because he's been suspended for use of a banned substance, pending a full review of his results. This morning he came to our studio backed up by his Benny's Megabytes team management to tell us how it came to this:...

Byron Pope, Banned From Riding Cross Country
"Further testing have revealed that they have found a steroid or a precursor to a steroid which is something like a family to a steroid in my system and ever since I got that news I was devastated, because I'm not the kind of rider who would go and use banned substance, and just to be on point Jules, the banned substance, I Byron Pope into he last 4 to 5 years I have been tested in Krem Classic at least 4 times I WON THAT RACE BEFORE. I came second in that race and I came third and each and every time I have tested I have never ever have to reach this point."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you ever knowingly used a banned substance or a precursor for the purpose of doping or enhancing your performance?"

Byron Pope, Banned From Riding Cross Country
"I have never, have never ever tried to go down that road Jules, because I am a cyclist that travels and I know the guidelines and I know the repercussions of the, the ahm, a positive test and I know the discipline that can be used against you."

Jules Vasquez
"How could this have happened?"

Byron Pope, Banned From Riding Cross Country
"Jules, like you say I'm not a rookie, the only solution I can think of is I used an icy hot rub to do some massages and I add something to the icy hot - and I don't know if that - and I believe that could be the only substance that could make me have an amount of steroids in my system. Because if you can recall the past Tour of France champion Lance, he tested positive not by taking something intramuscular, by injection or by something that he drunk. He used a patch and that evaporates in his system, in his body and if I use something to massage, that could be the same way it could end up in my system."

Jules Vasquez
"With this substance you added to the icy hot was it something you're familiar, was it something you have used before or you just were trying a thing?"

Byron Pope
"I have received it form a family friend. I had never at no point would a doubt this man this man, would a try set me up - I just received it and I applied it to the icy hot, I mixed it together and I do my massages. I feel good and thing."

Jules Vasquez
"But it's not the icy hot per se what did you add to it?"

Byron Pope
"I asked my family friend what was the substance. He told me that it was a cream that some people were going around and selling and he got a sample of it. He gave me, I'll be real Jules he gave me in a disposable cup. I didn't know anything. I trusted him and I took it, I applied it to my icy hot which I never did before, but I did it at that point and I mixed it up and I used it. I put it on my legs - I was feeling like I was doing something normal. I didn't know I would end up in a situation like this."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you spoken to this friend since?"

Byron Pope
"Yes I have spoken to him and the explanation he gave me is it's a sample he got from some people going around house to house selling and Jules, I don't even have a name for the substance."

Jules Vasquez
"If they say you had some kind of prohibited substance in you, do you think it affected your performance in anyway?"

Byron Pope
"No Jules, because I don't think it gave me any boost, hence the reason I came 3rd. I was in that 14 men breakaway which went down to 7 and I came 3rd. If I was using a substance for a booster, I would have been stronger to come first or to come second. I end up third. So I don't think it gave me any boosts at all."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you been notified by the cycling federation of what sanctions you will face? Will you be able to ride the cross country?"

Byron Pope
"Jules, no, I won't be able to participate in the cross country. I've been notified of that, that from that date which I got the notification that I am suspended until further outcome of the analysis of this problem."

Jules Vasquez
"It has to be a heartbreaker for you."

Byron Pope
"Well it's really a heartbreaker for me and my team, because I am one of the guys on my team and we have put in months after months training Jules. Right now I am here, but the emotions are inside me can't see it, but I can feel it and it hurts me to know that I won't be able to ride the cross country and I don't even know how long will I be off from racing."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there any way that you see that you just end up at a place where you say that you will take a break from cycling?"

Byron Pope
"It's hard. It's in my blood and ever since I've been notified, I've been out there every single day. At no point up to now I don't think I can put down the bike. And Jules you could put me on the record, I think I am going to die on a bicycle."

Pope will now have to go before a tribunal called RADA - the regional anti-doping organization. That body will hear his story and decide on the duration of his suspension. His team manager Perry Gibson says the cream will also be submitted for testing.

Pope is among Belize's best cyclists having won 2 junior cross country races, the KREM Classic in 2014, various other classics, multiple national championships as well as both road and time trials. He has placed as high as 4th in the cross-country.

Tune in tomorrow when you'll hear his advice for those young cyclists - who look up to him.