Seriously?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and I do apologize for the lack of posting lately but it was all I could do to keep up with the whirlwind that was March Break at my house last week. Anyway, back at my desk now and trying to tackle the mountain of work that has grown during my week of neglect.
I stopped by Cycling News this morning to try to catch up and was truly horrified to read this story about Belgian cyclist Kevin van Impe of the Quick Step team who was visiting a crematorium recently to attend to the unthinkable task of making funeral arrangements for his infant son who passed away shortly after being born premature. While struggling through what must have been one of the worst days of his life, van Impe was met by a drug tester who demanded that van Impe provide a sample on the spot or risk a two-year suspension for failing to comply.
Who is this guy and please tell me he doesn’t have a job anymore. It’s amazing enough to me that professional cyclists have to submit themselves to the humiliation of having to “drop and give me a cup” at any moment of the day or night, at home, at work, even on vacation. But while preparing to bury your son? Surely that’s too far. Surely there was a line back there somewhere that we crossed without noticing.
Happily the Flemish Minister of Sport did concede that the timing of this particular request had been in bad taste stating that, “”I can well understand the rider had other things on his mind at the time of the test,” and promising to find a way to continue random tests while trying to avoid these kinds of unique circumstances.
Amazing.
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March 17th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Stacey Derbinshire
March 17th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I heard that the same thing happened to Lance Armsrtong when his ex-wife was in labor and they were about to go to the hospital.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
These people appear to have forgotten that cyclists are human. There is no excuse.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
These people are ridiculous, thoughtless, and apparently lacking hearts or common sense. How insensitive and invasive can you be?