Is Tom Boonen the next Frank Vandenbroucke?

May 15, 2:35 PMDenver Cycling ExaminerGary Koenig

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Tom Boonen

The headlines blared “Boonen barred from Tour after testing positive for cocaine”. That headline of course, was from June 11, 2008. Headlines from two days ago seemed like a rerun: “Tour bans Tom Boonen after positive cocaine test”. Was this a form of Yogi Berra’s “Déjà vu all over again”? Unfortunately, it looks like superstar pro cyclist Tom Boonen, when it comes to cocaine, just can’t seem to keep his nose clean.

For the second time in just under a year, Boonen has been caught by an out-of-competition drug screening. Although the UCI does not forbid the use of recreational drugs when not in competition, it does classify the drug as a stimulant and it is forbidden during organized races. Last year’s debacle was made worse because Boonen had just been picked up for speeding and was deemed to be under the influence of alcohol while doing so.

Last year a chastened Boonen promised his fans that he would be back soon and asked them to “keep faith”. Using that line again this year will be pretty risky. According to VeloNews.com, Boonen acknowledged his dilemma after the most recent positive test was made public. "I think I have a problem. 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."

Boonen is one of cycling’s biggest stars and may be Belgium’s most popular sports star, period. But other Belgians have been down this road before, including the star-crossed cyclist, Frank Vandenbroucke. Vandenbroucke was a cycling prodigy in the late ‘90s, winning Paris-Nice in 1998 and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 1999. But a cocaine bust (sound familiar?) in late 1999 sent his career and life spiraling out of control. He has never had any serious cycling success since then, but he has been constantly in the news in Belgium, mostly for drug-related reasons, but marital problems and at least one attempted suicide have figured in the mix.

Speaking of mixes, is there any chance that the concoction known as Pot Belge played a role in the downfalls of our two cycling heroes? Pot Belge is a drug cocktail made from various combinations of cocaine, heroin, caffeine, amphetamines, and painkillers. It was reportedly widely used by professional cyclists in the years before organized drug testing became common-place. Even today, many in the cycling community feel that Pot Belge is on the uptick amongst amateur racers and even young people who take it simply as a recreational drug. I’m not accusing Boonen or Vandenbroucke of being Pot Belge users, but it is curious that two big Belgian cycling stars have had similar problems with cocaine.

So is Tom Boonen the new Frank Vandenbroucke? I seriously doubt it and I certainly hope not. Tom seems like a very likeable champion, humble yet personable. He has many years of top notch racing ahead of him if he can keep his weakness for mind-altering substances at bay. He won’t be at the Tour this year, and he may actually be banned by the UCI for some months. But once he gets back on his bike and focuses on training and winning, he will once more be a force to be reckoned with. For his own good, it might be best if he loses Paris-Roubaix next year. Then he won’t have the option to rest on his laurels which seems to only get him into trouble.