UCI bans former coach at women’s Continental team for 10 years for aggressive language, acts of humiliation and intimidation

September 18, 2026

The UCI Ethics Commission has handed a 10-year ban to Ladislav Demko, the former head of performance at the now-defunct women’s Continental team Hess Cycling, over several breaches of the UCI Code of Ethics.

Demko, who worked at the team until they stopped at the end of the 2025 season, was found to have breached article 5 (general principles) and article 6.4 (protection of physical and mental integrity) of the UCI Code of Ethics.

The decision also included ‘aggravating circumstances’ regarding article 2.1 (psychological abuse) and article 2.6 (minors and other dependent persons) of the code.

The breaches include aggressive, disrespectful, and demeaning language as well as acts of acts of isolation, humiliation, intimidation, and infantilisation towards a rider.

Demko has been banned from ‘taking part in any cycling-related activity organised by the UCI or any of its affiliates’ for 10 years, the UCI announced, while he has also been handed an unspecified fine.  CYCLING NEWS