Remember how great VDB was?

Of course it's just a set of initials on a drug-dealer's client list, but they are such evocative letters: VDB. At one stage a few years back those letters meant a rising star, born from greatness, destined to win. And then a series of calamities struck VDB, from doping offences to poor form, to breakdowns in his personal life. A career that began with bright hope soon decayed into soap opera. Well he's had a few comebacks and shown some promise, but now another allegation: cocaine.

Can this be happening? Frank Vandenbroucke has been placed on the "inactive list" by his team Mitsubishi-Jartazi, after the Belgian rider was linked to a cocaine investigation. "After mutual consideration between the management of the Mitsubishi-Jartazi cycling team, the sponsors of the team, Frank Vandenbroucke and Paul De Geyter, manager and representative of Frank Vandenbroucke, it was agreed to place the named rider on the inactive list. This is in anticipation of further and clearer information on a possible judicial study of this person," the team announced on its website. The Belgian media reported on Wednesday that Vandenbroucke's name had arisen as a customer in an investigation of gang drug dealers. "VDB" is alleged to have purchased a small amount of cocaine for his personal use earlier this year.