Cyclist ordered to take drug test during son's funeral arrangements

How out of control does the failed War on Drugs have to get?

Belgian professional cyclist Kevin van Impe was at a crematorium recently to make funeral arrangements for his son, who had died shortly after birth. While he was there, an employee of cycling's governing body barged in and ordered van Impe to take a urine test. (During the drug tests administered in professional cycling, they actually watch you urinate so you don't cheat.)

The tester threatened to ban van Impe from the sport for 2 years if he refused to take the drug test right there at the crematorium. It's bad enough that the intruder refused to wait a few weeks before hounding van Impe, but to actually demand a urine sample at the crematorium is beyond outrageous.

Apparently the tester wasn't interested in testing for drugs that athletes might abuse to boost performance but rather testing for drugs on the basis of the substances being illegal. Even though the incident happened in Belgium, this was clearly influenced by the McCarthyist bunker politics that Americans have suffered under for years. It's a bit like the "dry druggie" concept, in which people who aren't even using drugs are assailed as if they are.

Much of the sport of cycling has shown solidarity with van Impe. Other cyclists protested the discourteous treatment van Impe received, which forced a delay of the Paris-Nice race.

(Source: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/18/drug-war-goes-crazy-cyclist-forced-to-provide-sample-at-sons-c/?ncid=NWS00010000000001;
http://www.faniq.com/blog/You-Can-Cremate-Your-Son-After-You-Pee-In-This-Cup-Blog-7369;
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/rider-drug-tested-at-sons-funeral/2008/03/17/1205602258326.html)