Geneviève was a professional cyclist for 10 years. She represented Canada at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, won several World Cups as well as two junior World Championships. In 2005, Geneviève failed a drug test for EPO and was banned from all sport for 10 years. In 2015, Geneviève opened up about the situation that led to doping, which she now shares with hopes of helping other athletes facing similar difficult circumstances. Geneviève returned to her studies at the age of 30 to continue on the academic path that was interrupted by her cycling career when she was a teenager. She is now the head trainer at a fitness studio in Montreal and lives a full, enriching life. She mentors young women in professional cycling and is increasingly active in advancing safe sport policies for athletes. Geneviève returned to competition on the pro gravel circuit in 2022.
“My experience with doping is definitely not the scenario people expect; I was coerced into taking performance enhancing drugs at the age of 16 by a coach who abused me for the remainder of my career. Failing a drug test was a relief and my saving grace; my day-to-day reality was much scarier. It is important for me to raise awareness of the fact that not all doping stories are the athlete’s personal choice - before judging and sanctioning, we must look at the bigger picture. I hope that my voice helps protect athletes against abuse and intimidation into doping and contribute to changing society’s “winning at all costs” mentality.”
