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Boonen can start in the Tour

published 3 July 2009

CAS says Belgian champion can race

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Belgian national champion Tom Boonen and his Quick Step teammates out on a training ride. (Image credit: AFP)

Tom Boonen will start in the Tour de France tomorrow, the Court of Arbitration for Sport of the French Olympic Committee has ruled.

French judge not competent in Boonen affair

Last chance for Boonen's Tour ride

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It overturned the decision of the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the Tour organiser, to exclude the Quick Step sprinter because of his positive out-of-competition tests for cocaine. The court's decision cannot be appealed.

Quick Step team manager, Patrick Lefevere, was not in Paris when the Court's ruling was handed down, but he was understandably happy to hear the news that his highest profile rider would be allowed to start cycling's biggest event.

"I did not believe it was justice [to exclude Boonen]," Lefevere told Cyclingnews on Friday. "But the correct decision has now been made."

Boonen is already in Monaco, having travelled there with the Quick Step team in anticipation of the CAS decision.

Lefevere confirmed that Australian, Allan Davis, who was on stand-by to take Boonen's place at the Tour in the event of the CAS ruling against Boonen, had returned to his home in Spain on Friday afternoon.