Jul 3, 2009, 13:04 GMT
Paris - A French sports arbitration court has ruled in favour of former world road racing champion Tom Boonen's request to be allowed to ride in this year's Tour de France, the daily L'Equipe reported Friday.
The decision by the court in Monaco, announced one day before the start of the Tour, is a rebuff to race organizers, who had banned the 28-year-old Belgian rider for the Quick Step team because he twice tested positive for cocaine in out-of-competition testing.
Cocaine is not considered a performance-enhancing drug and the sports ruling body UCI does not therefore call for an automatic suspension when a rider tests positive for the drug.
However, the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO), which runs the Tour de France, excluded the 2005 world road race champion on the grounds that his presence would bring the sport into disrepute.
In a statement, the ASO said that the decision would give Boonen 'a second chance... to adopt exemplary behaviour during the race.'
Considered one of the top sprinters in the world, Boonen has won six Tour stages in his career.
Your Talkback on this Story