Boonen on coke - again!?

[craig1985]

Ok. now we really are getting silly... if everyone in europe that did a line of coke died it would wipe out half the population..



because recreational coke use for non performance enhancing reasons is the same as joining a team that YOU allege is using cera for performance enhancing reasons.. Numpty...

actually in the case of whiteboytrash why am i bothering replying to a troll a) coke and cera are completely different b) unless you know something we dont there is no evidence that astana are all using cera (although it wouldnt surprise me if a couple of there riders where last spring) c) and allegations that JB will hire anyone who has taken coke, or failed a drugs test are frankly absurd, if so he would have hired basso, landis, hamilton, and be pleased to see vinny returning..

Well of course not and I wasn't saying one line of coke = addication = death. But this is his second positive test, so obviously the second time he has taken it (at least) and putting link between this and Pantani. And I wasn't saying he will end up like Marco either.

Having said, I'm certainly a fan of Boonen and I hope he can sort himself out and race the Tour this year.

 

[Willy_Voet]

His second discovered cocain use in a year.

If you get caught speeding twice in a year, it usually means you've been speeding a bit more than those two times - yeah, I think this analogy fits here.

You're a big boy, Tom - step up to the plate and take it like a man.

I imagine he had a haircut 1st thing after the news yesterday. Less history to investigate

 

[LugHugger]

c) and allegations that JB will hire anyone who has taken coke, or failed a drugs test are frankly absurd, if so he would have hired basso, landis, hamilton, and be pleased to see vinny returning..

er...he DID hire Basso. and you are assuming that Landis et al would ride for him.

 

[Anonymous]

er...he DID hire Basso. and you are assuming that Landis et al would ride for him.

it was more the point that an assumption was made, that a rider who had taken cocaine would feel at home on a team that it was hinted where solely reliant on cera.. the latter of which was based purely on rumour and hyperbole.. seemed a strange statement from whiteboy... whith very little in the way of evidence. Hence i think he qualifies as a troll..

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Officially suspended by quickstep now.

 

[Jacques Tati]

Het Nieuwsbald 13.12 CET ....Boonen suspended by Quickstep....the writings sadly on the wall..... bye bye Tommy you had your chance!

 

[Nevermind]

Not only shag like a demon, but train like a demon too.

Those 7 hour training rides have to be a lot easier to get through with a little stimulation.

No, it's not a "harmless" bit of recreation. he should go.

Do you have any idea how much cocaine he'd have to take for his ''high'' to last 7 hours??? Answer is an insane amount that would leave him so stoned he wouldn't be able to sit on a bike for 2 minutes. While I disapprove of him taking the drugs and spoiling the sport's image, anyone who's done coke before will tell you that it's not something you'd take for training. Also, the after effects s*cks and your sleep will usually be pretty poor after taking the drug, don't think it would be beneficial to a top athlete training.

 

[Parrot23]

Throwing rocks....

I think people are much too quick to throw rocks here: this seems to be a drug dependency issue, with NO relationship to cheating in cycling. The latter is the problem in cycling, and ONLY it should be subject to public sanction.

Cheating for a living is the pits because of its terrible impact on others; a personal drug problem is not. What the hell does it have to do with whether he can turn pedals in circles faster and longer than some others? He should be excused or dealt with by non-cycling authorities--if that's required. It has nothing to do with cycling.

All this business about sponsors and role models is bunch of nonsense, showing how deeply money has corrupted the sport with lies. As if anyone care's about any putative Boy Scout morals of some flooring company, LOL. If Boonen is regularly seen snorting his life away in clubs (or if there's a pic like Michael Phelps using drugs), then it's a problems.

Full disclosure, LOL: never done drugs, so none of the above is tainted by residual self-interest or sympathies.

 

[Jacques Tati]

Oh dear Parrot23...would appear somebody threw a rock and it gave you a nasty bang on the head....quite clearly having read the crap you just wrote...go and see a doctor for your condition.

 

[Parrot23]

Tati

You just have to start hoping you are never on the receiving end, and a personal problem becomes a matter of public condemnation and you have to beg for mercy. I hope you're confident

 

[Jacques Tati]

parrot

Hey parrot you want me to call the doc for you....your starting to ramble nonsense

 

[podilato]

I think Boonen should have faced sanctions for his driving offences. He was caught driving so dngerously they took his licence off him. What would have happened if he killed someone? Could we guess that he could of been high when he was speeding?

Before we feel too sorry for him many people in other professions would probably lose their jobs instantly after testing positive just once or being convicted of a driving offence.

Then again, we are talking about the parallel universe called 'professional sports'.

 

[elapid]

I have to agree with Parrot 23 and others. This is just sad. No one would risk the consequences of jail time for a second offense (and having your career ruined) unless they were addicted. Addictions are a terrible thing, doesn't matter what substance is being abused. If Tom is addicted to cocaine, then he needs professional help. He does not and should not be hung out to dry by the UCI, Quickstep and us the fans. While he may not be a Pantani (yet), Pantani spiralled out of control and into eventual suicide because he lacked the support mechanisms to deal with his addiction. For those critical of Tom and this result, then you need to get an understanding of addictions and their effect. Read Matt Rendell's "Death of Marco Pantani".

 

[Jacques Tati]

So what are you saying...the UCI should set up a rehab clinc.

 

[franciep10]

I think some of you are over-reacting here, one guy said they should ban him for two year, I mean come on it's a recreational drug I have to agree with dimspace. My best friend is addicted to crack I would rather him to be taking cocaine. 90% of $100 dollar bills in the U.S have cocaine residue it's a party drug, if quick step is dumb enough to release their best rider for snorting a line then fin i'm sure silence lotto will be happy to pick him up, they need some wins anyway.

 

[Jacques Tati]

Put him in stocks at the top of the Koppenberg and we can all throw rotten fruit at him.

 

[Parrot23]

Okay, Tati, lots of gals in Belgium would just love to have Boonen in handcuffs, LOL. You're just jealous

 

[Steel4Ever]

From the first time he got busted I've always said that it was a criminal matter, not a sporting one -- it was out-of-competition and with an illegal substance.

The first time he got busted the Belgian courts (and Belgium public) set him free with out as much as a slap on the wrist. They said that him missing the Tour was punishment enough. I called it a complete farce and disgrace, but what do I know about the Belgium legal system.

Hell, riders were getting banned for a year for testing positive for out-of-competition appetite suppressor! Yet nothing happened to Boonen. At the very least his team should have sent him to some kind of rehab or drug course, but all they did was coddle him. So, yeah, you let the guy get away with criminal behaviour, very literally, of course he will be a repeat offender!

First time around it was all Boonen's fault. This time the Belgium courts have to carry half the guilt.

BTW -- his hair samples from his first offense showed that he did coke on numerous occasions, not just the single one that got him busted.

 

[Jacques Tati]

parrot

Are you sexist?.....you assume Im male?

 

[ak-zaaf]

pfff, a little coke...


so this guy likes to use a nice little drug during his time off. so what?



he might be a rolemodel, but he sure didn't sign up for that himself. i'd hate to see him miss the tour again beacuse of this. so hypocritical.

but maybe he just loved last july's time off.

 

[elapid]

So what are you saying...the UCI should set up a rehab clinc.

No - but there needs to be some understanding if he does have an addiction. Jail time and firing from Quickstep will not solve the addiction. I just don't agree with sending him to the slaughterhouse for abusing a recreational drug, and cannot understand the lack of sympathy and understanding of many people on this list. There is a difference between recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs, but so many people are treating this as one and the same. Are you really prepared to through him under a bus for an addiction to a recreational drug? If it was in-competition and performance-enhancing, then I would be singing a different tune. Remember some of the beautiful moments that Tom has provided throughout his career, including this year. None of this is due to his cocaine habit, just his talent and strength on a bike.

 

[slowoldman]

Funny the reactions I have read, if this was a certain rider who shall remain nameless, you would have cried for his head on a plate.

 

[Steel4Ever]

he might be a rolemodel, but he sure didn't sign up for that himself. i'd hate to see him miss the tour again beacuse of this. so hypocritical.

Yes, actually he DID sign up to be a rolemodel! That's what happens when you become a professional public figure, be it American rockstar or Belgium cycling star. That in no way contracts him to be as pure as the driven snow, but if he thinks he can do whatever he wants because he is a superstar...guess again pretty boy.

How is any of this hypocritical? He was tested positive, now on two different and separate occasions, for an ILLEGAL substance! And not just a illegal sport substance, but a society-at-large illegal substance. He also broke the law by breaking the conditions of his previous court judgement.

I hope he gets sent to a very scary jail one weekend a month for a year. Just to keep him reminded...

 

[BroDeal]

pfff, a little coke...

so this guy likes to use a nice little drug during his time off. so what?

+1

There is no issue with sport about this other than outrage by the puritanical crowd. If the sport punishes him then we have a situation like some American sports in years past that were punishing players for recreational drugs even as it was obvious that their sports were rife with performance enhancing ones. It becomes a bit of a farce. It sounds like Boonen is already facing problems with the criminal court system. Let the courts deal with him.

Boonen might be an addict. He might also just be stupid or carefree. No matter what the truth, Boonen should immediately announce he is entering a rehab program. That would probably help stave off some of the more serious legal consequences and it would be a good PR move.

 

[slowoldman]

+1

There is no issue with sport about this other than outrage by the puritanical crowd. If the sport punishes him then we have a situation like some American sports in years past that were punishing players for recreational drugs even as it was obvious that their sports were rife with performance enhancing ones. It becomes a bit of a farce. It sounds like Boonen is already facing problems with the criminal court system. Let the courts deal with him.

Boonen might be an addict. He might also just be stupid or carefree. No matter what the truth, Boonen should immediately announce he is entering a rehab program. That would probably help stave off some of the more serious legal consequences and it would be a good PR move.

I disagree, it speaks to character. If you are willing to put pharmaceutical products into your body recreationally, you would be suceptible to do it to enhance your sporting performance. Also like how people complain about Armstrong's PR but look for Boonen to do the same as Armstrong.

Double standard perhaps?