Frankly, when the news came out this past weekend that Tom Boonen (Quick Step) had failed another out-of-competition test for cocaine, his second in consecutive years, I was rather ambivalent.Boonen is considered one of the superstars of cycling, not only in the present but quite possibly of all-time. As such, he receives "rockstar" treatment wherever he goes and evidently he parties like one as well.
But Tom Boonen's drug use doesn't make him the devil or even a bad person, but to many, just an incredibly stupid one.
At 28-years old, Tom Boonen now has as many Ronde van Vlaanderen victories as he has drug suspensions and bans from participating in the Tour de France. His legacy inches farther away from the likes of Eddy Merckx and closer to Frank Vandenbroucke.
But when all is said and done, it is Tommeke's life to live and his reputation to either raise or squander. As cycling fans, we all hope he chooses the former. But until he takes a more active role in that decision, I will neither extol his virtues or bury him for his transgressions. I'll simply remain ambivalent and take his cycling feats at face value.
Photo: AP
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