On Friday the UCI Ethics Commission announced a ten-year ban for Ladislav Demko, the Slovak former head of performance at the British-based women’s Hess Cycling team. Demko, 52, was also fined and ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings. The ban covers any cycling-related activity organised by the UCI or its affiliate organizations.
The commission found that Demko habitually used aggressive and disrespectful language, drove team vehicles unsafely and in an intimidating manner, and made demeaning remarks about the physical appearance of riders and staff. It said this amounted to an abuse of his position within the team.
It also found that he isolated, humiliated, intimidated and infantilised a rider he coached and lived with. The UCI said the conduct continued after the relationship ended, and that the consensual relationship did not place the conduct outside the Code of Ethics because of the coaching and dependent relationship.
Former Hess staff members and the rider filed complaints, several through the UCI SpeakUp platform. An independent external trauma-informed investigator assisted the commission, and Demko was given the opportunity to be heard. The UCI said harassment and abuse are “incompatible with the values of cycling.”
Hess Cycling folded in August 2025, owing thousands of pounds to riders, partners and suppliers.
Demko, who goes by Ladi, has since moved into amateur cycling and triathlon, including training camps. Velocamp Mallorca, which runs all-inclusive villa camps for riders, listed him as its head coach in 2025. In April 2026, triathlon website Slowtwitch identified him as marketing director of Regna, a Singapore-based brand offering custom AI-fitted cycling and triathlon clothing for athletes.
Demko retains the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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