Boonen pays €2m in Belgian tax case

Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen has reportedly paid €2m to resolve a tax evasion investigation in Belgium, reports Cycling News. News came to light last month that Boonen had been the focus of special tax investigators, who suspected that the former world champion had overstepped the mark in terms of his "tax optimisation". He allegedly did not declare enough of his income to Belgian authorities, while a Monaco resident. Boonen lived in the Mediterranean tax haven from September 2005 until early last year when he returned to his home country. Despite Boonen's payment and insistence on his innocence, the case remains open according to Het Laatste Nieuws, with other riders also said to have fallen foul of regulations, including former teammate Stijn Devolder. It has not been a good year for Boonen who crashed out of the Tour of Flanders after hitting a road sign. His off-season was punctuated by intestinal problems and then a severely infected elbow. He has recently confirmed that he will not take part in this year's Tour de France.