Another disappointment and more negativity for pro cycling today as news broke about Tom Boonen’s cocaine abuse. As most of you have no doubt already heard, Tom Boonen tested positive for the drug during an out of competition test on May 25th, just days before the start of the Tour of Belgium. He went on to win the final stage. Though he probably won’t face a professional suspension because it wasn’t taken during a race, he could have legal trouble in his home country. But more importantly, he has to face himself, his family and the millions of people that count as his fans. His team, Quick-Step, will hold a news conference on Wednesday, supposedly with Boonen, to address this situation. Because Boonen is such an idol to so many young kids, cyclists or not, he has to be able to stand up in front of everyone, acknowledge his mistakes and propose how he will fix them. So many young ones have counted him as their role model so anything close to a run around would be disastrous to his image.

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Some of you may think back and wonder if this news sounds vaguely familiar to another young star. Remember Jan Ullrich’s drug ordeal? He tested positive for amphetamines back in 2002 when he was in a funk trying to recover from a knee injury and decided to go to the disco. Sure, he recovered and continued to be 2nd fiddle to Lance at the Tour but his career was cut short thanks to his alleged link to Operation Puerto, which could have been his final bad decision. (I'm not even going to touch the Pantani affair.)

Boonen’s situation is a bit more complicated. Cycling is going through a very low spell thanks to all of the negative press concerning doping. As a result, many teams are trying to find new sponsors which put added pressure on the image of the sport. Boonen’s breaking news is much more than him and Quick-Step, it’s about the entire profession. Cycling does not and cannot take another lethal blow in the public’s eye. We’ve recently heard some positive news such as Alberto Contador’s story at the Giro, Versus extending their Tour de France coverage and, just today too, Team CSC finding a new sponsor for the next 3 years. But all of those stories have been overshadowed by Boonen’s bombshell. The Tour of Switzerland has already come out and said he is not invited and we’re all waiting to hear what the Tour de France does. Will they even matter? Quick-Step may in fact enforce their own policies and suspend Boonen altogether.

It would seem unjust for Boonen not to face at least some type of suspension. Cycling has to continue to set a good example, even if it is towards “recreational” drug use and the athletes must be held up to the upmost of standards on and off the bike. Apparently Tom Boonen’s fame and fortune has been getting to him and surprisingly without any hint of this to us! Well, I take that back. There were little hints like his excessive lead foot and his friend’s involvement with dope a few months ago but nothing to make us aware that he was endangering his career as well as his life. Let’s hope someone reminds him of what happened to Marco Pantani. Maybe he will get a new perspective on life and begin to correct his shortfalls. How ironic for a guy we thought didn’t have any shortfalls.

Coincidentally, papers in Europe have reported that Boonen was in close talks with French team Bouygues Telecom for a contract next year. This story could spell the end to those talks as well and put Boonen’s future in further doubt.

Stay tuned.

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