Boonen allegedly used cocaine "often"

Hair tests have allegedly shown that Tom Boonen used cocaine "often" over a period of months, according to sportwereld.be.

Boonen tested positive for cocaine at an out-of-competition control in May. He claimed innocence, saying someone must have spiked his drink at an outdoor cafe. According to the Belgian website, the investigating judge did not believe that story and ordered the hair test, which was carried out shortly after the Belgian championships.

The hair test results showed that while the Quick Step sprinter had not used the drug lately, he had used it earlier. "It is not a one-time thing," an anonymous investigator said on sportwereld.be.

"He used coke often for a couple of months. Then he stopped. We infer that from the fact that hair grows one centimetre per month and there is no drug trace in the newest hair growth."

The use of cocaine out-of-competition does not carry any sporting penalties. However, the judicial investigation is continuing.(SW)