Biondi to resume post following court ruling

Laurent Biondi will resume his post as AG2R team director. Wednesday, he was released by the Court of Appeal from involvement in the Pot Belge Affair, a doping product trafficking scheme that allegedly had those involved distributing amphetamines to riders and their entourage.

Biondi had always denied his involvement in the affair, but he was awaiting a formal decision on a three month prison sentence, initially under deferment. According to AFP, his case "was suspended while waiting for the final decision."

Twenty-three ex-professional riders, team staff and doctors were implicated in the affair, with many receiving fines and prison terms (often suspended) as punishment. The doping case commenced in early 2004 when a drug trafficking ring of pot belge (a mix of cocaine, caffeine, pain killers, sometimes amphetamine and heroin) between France and Belgium was uncovered. The business related to importation from January 2002 to January 2005.