Boonen on coke - again!?

[Anonymous]

Wow this is the dumbest thing I've read today, and I've seen LA twitter page.

agreed.. out of competition.. non performance enhancing.. irrelevant..
i think a short ban for bringing cycling into disrepute and being a plank but outside of that... none of the uci's business..

talking of disrepute.. have they done anything about Bos yet?

 

[ElChingon]

True the UCI is not the police but then again they are the cycling governing body and I hope they do make such decisions to protect the image of cycing (I know I'm reaching) by not allowing these bad images from continuing in professional cycling. Or am I just asking way too much?

Heck at least the NFL banned Micheal Vick (aka Ron Mexico ), then again he was in jail so he couldn't play

Hopefully someone gets the idea though

 

[Anonymous]

i dont disagree.. he should get a short ban for tarnishing the sport, then some councilling and a bit of charity work.. then lets get back to racing..

 

[Anonymous]

True the UCI is not the police but then again they are the cycling governing body and I hope they do make such decisions to protect the image of cycing (I know I'm reaching) by not allowing these bad images from continuing in professional cycling. Or am I just asking way too much?

Heck at least the NFL banned Micheal Vick (aka Ron Mexico ), then again he was in jail so he couldn't play

Hopefully someone gets the idea though

My favorite pseudonym in the history of pseudonyms.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Although everyone seems to agree that Boonen should get some kind of ban from the UCI, that simply won't happen. Why? Because the UCI have to follow the rules. Cocaine is only prohibited in competition, and as long as that's what it says on the prohibited list - nobody can recieve a ban for using cocaine in private.

The discussion should instead be whether the rules should be changed, so that cocaine is prohibited 24/7.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Although everyone seems to agree that Boonen should get some kind of ban from the UCI, that simply won't happen. Why? Because the UCI have to follow the rules. Cocaine is only prohibited in competition, and as long as that's what it says on the prohibited list - nobody can recieve a ban for using cocaine in private.

They still can ban him for damaging the "good" name of cycling.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

The major difference (not the only!!) between alcohol and cocaïne, is that the fist is a legal drug, the other an illegal.

 

[Jacques Tati]

Although everyone seems to agree that Boonen should get some kind of ban from the UCI, that simply won't happen. Why? Because the UCI have to follow the rules. Cocaine is only prohibited in competition, and as long as that's what it says on the prohibited list - nobody can recieve a ban for using cocaine in private.

The discussion should instead be whether the rules should be changed, so that cocaine is prohibited 24/7.

Exactly and until it is a full time banned substance then dealing with such abuses should be left to the appropriate authorities...THE POLICE!!

 

[kjetilraknerud]

They still can ban him for damaging the "good" name of cycling.

Maybe they can, but to me that wouldn't look good from a juridical perspective. At one point in the UCI rules, cocaine is allowed outside competition. At another point, a ban can be given for damaging the sport. Using the latter rule in a case regarding cocaine, would mean that the specific cocaine rule is nullified. That doesn't look right in my book.

I must say that I agree with the fact that Boonen should have recieved a ban, but then the rules had to be different.

 

[Barnaby]

They still can ban him for upholding the "good" name of cycling.

Corrected that for you

 

[elapid]

They still can ban him for damaging the "good" name of cycling.

I am admittedly a sympathiser. I do not think Boonen should be banned, even if it were possible, and I think this matter should be dealt with solely by the police and judicial authorities. The use of social drugs in a social setting should be a police matter and professional sports bodies should stay well alone. As has been stated, Boonen's positive cocaine bust was out-of-competition and hence beyond the reach of the UCI.

On a slightly different tack, the UCI have done more to damage the name and image of professional cycling than a single rider enjoying some illicit drugs after a huge win. Drugs, drug testing, PT debarcle, power struggles with GT organizers, etc, etc. I am not sure how many forum members watched Fawlty Towers, but the UCI is cycling's version of Basil and Manuel.

 

[Aapjes]

talking of disrepute.. have they done anything about Bos yet?

According to Impey, the hearing was around May 8th. The UCI has 2 months to make a decision, so there should be a decision before July 8th.

 

[ElChingon]

Well hopefully the ASO can impose their Tour ban on him. If they can do it to a team why not a rider, or if the team takes said rider the whole team. They've done it before.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Well hopefully the ASO can impose their Tour ban on him. If they can do it to a team why not a rider, or if the team takes said rider the whole team. They've done it before.

I don't think the ASO is going to have ANY trouble keeping him out of the race, if they want (and I think they do).

 

[stephens]

Well hopefully the ASO can impose their Tour ban on him. If they can do it to a team why not a rider, or if the team takes said rider the whole team. They've done it before.

Why not, you ask? Well, because Boonen's "offense" has nothing to do with cycling.

He has said he will sue them if they try to keep him out of the tour. I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, I hope the public rallies behind him and pressures the Tour to let him ride.

 

[ElChingon]

Why not, you ask? Well, because Boonen's "offense" has nothing to do with cycling.

He has said he will sue them if they try to keep him out of the tour. I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, I hope the public rallies behind him and pressures the Tour to let him ride.

He's going to sue them because they won't let him in because he's a coke head? Something tells me any judge will allow it, especially a French judge since Boonen is Belgian and not a French citizen or sport hero so what will they care a Belgian coke head isn't going to le Tour?

 

[stephens]

When you call him a "coke head," you pretty much lose all credibility because no reasonable person would use such a term to describe Boonen. Champion cyclist? Yes. Young man who parties very occasionally? yes. Young man who drank a little too much of a legal drug and took a recreational drug that is illegal? Sure. But there is no evidence that he uses cocaine regularly. How many hundreds of drug tests has he been given in his career? If he had a drug problem, he'd have tested positive a lot more than two or three times.

 

[Anonymous]

When you call him a "coke head," you pretty much lose all credibility because no reasonable person would use such a term to describe Boonen. Champion cyclist? Yes. Young man who parties very occasionally? yes. Young man who drank a little too much of a legal drug and took a recreational drug that is illegal? Sure. But there is no evidence that he uses cocaine regularly. How many hundreds of drug tests has he been given in his career? If he had a drug problem, he'd have tested positive a lot more than two or three times.

Having been clean and sober for over 18 years, I can tell you that every coke head I have ever known denied they did it that much until they were really ready to quit. I don't know if he is or isn't, but you certainly cannot determine it because he says it was an isolated incident. In fact, from my experience, people who don't have a problem and knew they would be tested wouldn't do coke. People who have a problem in that instance would be the ones to take the chance because the desire to do the drug overrides the natural instinct for self protection.

If you ever have kids and you find their stash, don't believe them when they tell you they are just holding it for a friend, and that they only tried it once. Then again, my parents believed me, so I guess you they are a lot like you. People always want to deny the reality of what is really going on. It is no different with that or doping in cycling.

 

[BigBoat]

Boonen has a problem with it or he would not have allowed himself to test positive for it again and have all that happen to him again.

 

[stephens]

This is possible. Or maybe it's possible he got too drunk like he says, and doesn't remember what he did. That would mean his real "problem" is binge drinking. But how much of a problem can a guy have if he trains all the time, wins races, etc? How many days a year does he actually "party"? Are there reports of him being stark raving mad about town or doing crimes or being violent or anything?

I guess I can understand the perspective of people who are now sober after being junkies. But they should also understand the perspective of those of us who were quite able to use all sorts of drugs in our teens and 20s and did not become addicted or behave dangerously or become jerks or whatever and therefore did not need to do rehab or twelve step or any of that. In fact, this describes the experience of the majority of users: and yet the conversation is always dominated by the minority who couldn't handle it, and they believe their experience is the one everyone is going to have and therefore believe in zero tolerance. And since they themselves can't use casually, or even once, without falling into a deep pit of addiction and negative behavior, and the same goes for the peer group they find themselves surrounded by at treatment centers or AA meetings where they have to hear all the terrible stories of drug addicts, they equate drug use with terrible results, totally failing to realize their sample group is not representative of the real world. The vast majority of casual users will not end up as addicts requiring treatment.

 

[ElChingon]

Boonen has a problem with it or he would not have allowed himself to test positive for it again and have all that happen to him again.

Exactly. If his drinks were truly getting some extra potion at the night clubs I'd be headed there now to the same night clubs as getting it for the price of a drink and on top of the drink, it would be dirt cheap! Heck the pushers would be losing money if they gave it away for the price of a drink.

Back to reality, he tested positive for the third time! It was just kept quiet to allow for a possible third strike? At that point I think he lost all credibility for being a "Champion Cyclist" and has converted to a "Champion Cocaine Positive Cyclist".

 

[Anonymous]

This is possible. Or maybe it's possible he got too drunk like he says, and doesn't remember what he did. That would mean his real "problem" is binge drinking. But how much of a problem can a guy have if he trains all the time, wins races, etc? How many days a year does he actually "party"? Are there reports of him being stark raving mad about town or doing crimes or being violent or anything?

I guess I can understand the perspective of people who are now sober after being junkies. But they should also understand the perspective of those of us who were quite able to use all sorts of drugs in our teens and 20s and did not become addicted or behave dangerously or become jerks or whatever and therefore did not need to do rehab or twelve step or any of that. In fact, this describes the experience of the majority of users: and yet the conversation is always dominated by the minority who couldn't handle it, and they believe their experience is the one everyone is going to have and therefore believe in zero tolerance. And since they themselves can't use casually, or even once, without falling into a deep pit of addiction and negative behavior, they describe even the casual user as an addict even though the vast majority of casual users will not end up as addicts requiring treatment.

Dang dude, nobody said you have a problem. Me thinks thou doth protest too much. Did some judge or your parents force you to go to AA meetings or something?

The point is that, from my experience, (and I have known literally thousands of addicts) people who know that they will be tested, and that testing positive will cause very negative consequences, and still use show an inability to use instincts people who don't have a problem have. That being self preservation. Also, there is no difference between drug abuse and alcohol abuse. They are both drugs. It is the genetic make-up of the person that determines how one handles drugs and alcohol. You either have it or you don't. Then again, maybe you are smarter than all of the medical evidence and doctors who have studied addiction.

I don't believe in zero tolerance. In fact, I believe in the legalization of some recreational drugs. There are some that are a bit too dangerous for that, but your stereotypathon falls short of you actually knowing what the **** you are talking about.

Oh, and your characterization doesn't describe the experience of most of the people I used with, but then again, water does tend to seek its own level.

 

[Anonymous]

Exactly. If his drinks were truly getting some extra potion at the night clubs I'd be headed there now to the same night clubs as getting it for the price of a drink and on top of the drink, it would be dirt cheap! Heck the pushers would be losing money if they gave it away for the price of a drink.

Back to reality, he tested positive for the third time! It was just kept quiet to allow for a possible third strike? At that point I think he lost all credibility for being a "Champion Cyclist" and has converted to a "Champion Cocaine Positive Cyclist".

Only a freaking moron would waste coke by putting it into a drink. You either snort, smoke, or shoot. Anything else is just plain stupid.

 

[stephens]

Oh, and your characterization doesn't describe the experience of most of the people I used with, but then again, water does tend to seek its own level.

This is precisely my point. The perspective of addicts is warped because they were always around other addicts: both when they were using, and in recovery. They don't see that most people can use without it being a problem. And so we're bombarded with messages about drug usage that do not reflect the true reality. This thread is a perfect example: Boonen used cocaine at a party, therefore he must be a cokehead with a huge problem and a terrible roll model not worthy of supporting or allowing to race in pro cycling and should be jailed and blah, blah, blah. It gets tiresome.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Maybe he has an alcohol problem. Maybe he has a coke problem. (I think neither)

I don't know much about drug addiction, but wouldn't it be the worst thing to do for an addict to take his other passion away??