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Panel says Boonen didn't take cocaine

By Agence France Presse
Published: Jun. 18, 2009
Boonen may not have actually injested cocaine ... this time.
Boonen may not have actually injested cocaine ... this time.
Photo: Agence France Presse - file photo

A panel of independent experts has concluded that Quick Step’s Tom Boonen did not actually ingest the cocaine for which he tested positive six weeks ago, Belgian media reported Thursday.

The panel based its conclusion on the small quantity of the substance found in the Belgian racer's hair samples examined by the Belgian University of Louvain and the University of Strasbourg in France, Sporza television reported.

Boonen, who had tested positive for cocaine a year earlier as well, has said he suffered an alcohol-induced blackout on the night of his alleged cocaine use and doesn’t recall whether he took the drug this year.

The panel’s results point to the sprinter having been in only indirect contact with the drug.

Boonen, a three-time winner of Paris-Roubaix, faced calls for him to be banned from this year's Tour de France and could face disciplinary proceedings by the UCI.

The Belgian's team has sent the results of the hair analysis to the UCI and to ASO, organisers of the Tour de France, in the hope that he may now be allowed to compete.

The 28-year-old's team is backing him and hopes he will be allowed to race, promising to provide legal support if he is refused entry.

The UCI said earlier this month it would not be able to complete any disciplinary process before the July 4-26 Tour, meaning that Boonen, "according to the regulations" would be in any case free to race.

According to Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere, "the sporting and economic damage for team and sponsors (which would arise from) the absence of Tom in the biggest race of the year are incalculable."

Lefevere has threatened to demand millions of Euros in compensation if the racer is excluded.

UCI president Pat McQuaid is on record as saying Boonen will eventually face some kind of sanction although, since cocaine is not considered a performance-enhancing drug unless used within days of competition, he cannot face a traditional drugs ban. Instead, said McQuaid, Boonen may be penalized for bringing disrepute to the sport of cycling.