Hayles, Ligthart cleared to compete

Track racers Pim Ligthart and Rob Hayles have been cleared to return to racing on Friday after being barred from the UCI World Track championships in Manchester in March for returning irregular blood values.

Hayles, a former World Champion had a haematocrit just over the 50-percent limit in a test the day of the first session, while Ligthart had irregular reticulocytes due to a virus, according to his federation.

"I knew the test on Thursday would clear me," Hayles told the Guardian. "My haematocrit has been between 45 and 48 since the first test and I knew it was just a case of the UCI seeing the result and signing it off. Finally I heard that it had been approved. It's a massive relief."