Seems like Tom Boonen has a bit of an addiction or a bit of a self-destructive streak, or perhaps both. For the second time in less than a year, the Belgian cycling star tested positive for cocaine use. The good news, in a way, was that the out-of-competition test means that no sanctions will be handed down by the anti-doping agencies. The bad news, however, is that cocaine isn’t legal as a recreational drug in Tom’s homeland (is it anywhere?), and he now faces the prospect of criminal charge that could result in jail time and/or a fine if he’s found guilty.
And, according to various news reports, after receiving word of the cyclist’s positive test result, police raided Boonen’s home. As Agence France Presse reports:
News of his latest positive test led prosecutors on Friday to order a raid on Boonen’s home. No details have been released, but the possession of cocaine in Belgium carries a punishment of between three months and five years in prison and a fines of 1,000 to 100,000 euros.
Boonen’s attorney sums up exactly what kind of trouble his client might be in.
Boonen’s lawyer, Luc Deleu, told Sporza television channel that he feared the worst of outcomes for the 28-year-old Belgian.
“In legal terms this test is a problem because it has effectively violated the terms of last year’s ruling which virtually suspended any kind of sentence. The consequences could be disastrous,” Deleu said.
“For him personally, the problem is just as significant. His image is tainted. He risks missing the Tour (de France) again.
Boonen managed to dodge serious legal consequence from last year’s positive cocaine test by pledging to stay out of trouble for the next three years. With this test result, if what’s been reported is true, Boonen has violated that agreement. Hence, DeLeu’s worries for his client.
In a follow-up article, AFP quotes Boonen as recognizing he has a problem, and understanding that he needs to do something about it.
“The night before the drug test, I went out,” said the recent winner of Paris-Roubaix. “I stayed for a while and I drank. At some stage I must have taken something. Then I had a blackout.”
“I think I have a problem,” Boonen, the 2005 world champion, continued. “After spending three to four months working, when I go out I probably over-step the mark and I become someone else.
“For 364 days a year, it’s perfect. I try to be an exemplary citizen. But the day that I drink too much, something that I don’t do often, I change. I will now seek help.
“I’m not a murderer but that’s how people see me,” added the rider, who hopes his aberration will not have repercussions for his Quick Step team.
“For the time being, I’m more concerned by what happens to the team than by what happens to me,” he said. “At the moment my future as a cyclist is the last of my concerns.”
At the moment, Boonen has been suspended from competition by Quick Step. The Belgian seems to have a firm grasp of what needs to happen. For his sake, I hope Tom Boonen can actually overcome his fondness for alcohol and recreational drugs. Boonen is still young enough to have a fine career as a professional cyclist, if he doesn’t keep sabotaging himself. If he can’t overcome whatever problem he has, I doubt he’ll find a team willing to hire him, much less be able to race professionally.
Looks like it’s time for Tom to go to rehab.
Meanwhile, digging through samples past…
Reader Jean C tipped me off to Tom Boonen’s latest trouble, and to a couple of brief articles about testing for CERA, a third-generation blood boosting drug related to EPO. After doing a bit of searching this evening, I ran across a Canadian Press article which gives a bit more detail than the two short article Jean linked to in this comment.
Drug test samples from last year’s Giro d’Italia have reportedly been sent to a French lab to be re-examined for the advanced blood-booster CERA.
Italian police sequestered the samples from an anti-doping lab in Rome and sent them to the Chatenay-Malabry lab, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported Saturday ahead of the start of the Giro.
Padua prosecutor Benedetto Roberti requested that the samples be re-tested in December, according to the Gazzetta. Emanuele Sella tested positive in July for CERA in an out-of-competition test and allegedly named other riders who used the substance during the Giro.
One has to wonder why it took from December until this month to begin testing the samples from last year’s Giro. The way the anti-doping rules work, the agencies can retest samples for up to eight years after they were given. It’s taken at least 5 months for the samples to be “seized” as a brief article on CyclingWeekly.co.uk put it.
Zomegnan also revealed that Italian police have seized samples taken during the 2008 Giro to test them for CERA. With a worried look on his face, Zomegnan accepted that there could be other positives.
Well, yes there could be other positives. Especially if what Emanuelle Sella told authorities last year is true. An Associated Press article adds a bit more nuance to Zomegan’s comments.
“From what I hear, some prosecutor has requested those tests,” Zomegnan said, adding that “organizers are not responsible for test samples.”
I find the timing a bit odd, to say the least. But it could well be coincidental. If the legal system in Italy works at the same ruthless speed as it does over here, it could well have taken this long for prosecutors to get the authorization to go forward with the tests — especially if certain athletes were seeking to prevent the tests from happening.
Of course, that’s pure conjecture on my part. It will be interesting to see what comes of these retrospective tests. Who will be implicated, if anyone? And could it have an impact on this year’s results? Only time will tell.
Boonen’s explanation is entirely plausible. From first hand personal experience, I have a couple of close friends who are alcoholics. Each had problems with blackouts. Each behaved much differently when they were drunk, as opposed to being sober. That was extremely dangerous for one of the individuals and potentially dangerous for the other. Each had zero recollection about their behavior when extremely drunk. Each had little impulse control while drunk also. Both have been sober for well over a decade, now lead productive lives (both personally and professionally), and are kind family oriented people. Each attend(ed) AA and had the support of friends and family. With one his employer was instrumental. With the other, his father was key.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Tornado Tom. At first blush, Quickstep’s suspension of TB seems to indicate they will not be an employer who is helpful, but that may or may not be the case. In one of my examples, the employer that helped, suspended my friend, with specific conditions for a return to work and much of the cost for the intervention was on the employer’s dime.
I hope TB gets the help he needs and that he truly wants the help. It doesn’t work without both ingredients. I also hope the alphabet soup can manage to help or at least stay neutral. It’s a critical time for TB and he doesn’t need the soup blundering into making matters worse.
Jeff,
Well put. I certainly hope Tornado Tom gets the help he needs. Glad to hear your friends managed to overcome their problems with alcohol. It’s a tough battle, to get and stay sober. Boonen might well benefit from AA. Perhaps Quick Step will play a major role in his recovery. It would be good to see the team looking out for the overall well-being of their athletes.
“One has to wonder why it took from December until this month to begin testing the samples from last year’s Giro.”
Well…gee…seems pretty obvious. The sample-ees are back in town. The italians seems primed to literally take the offenders off their bikes and toss them in the gaol while they have them in their jurisdiction. Don’t forget ASO has their meat hooks into the Giro too. DiLuca, Basso and Heras didn’t do them any favors; and Contador was named in Puerto. Crikey, and LNDD is back in the game too. Talk about keystone kops.
Mayfield*
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/mark_beech/05/10/beech.mayfield/index.html
Wait…what? I don;t even think of NASCAR as exercise, much less a sport.
I wonder what performance-enhancing drug Mayfield might have been using? One to increase concentration? One to lower blood pressure? Certainly not (ahem) “speed” — at least not judging by his results. 😉
8-0, if you don’t think race driving is exercise, take yourself to a go-kart track and go around hard for 30 minutes. Cardio fitness is very important.
TBV
Seems it was only a matter of time. The “braintrust” @ UCI is considering piling on:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/12052009/58/boonen-face-six-month-ban.html