Tour de France - Boonen cleared to race
Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 23:25:00 2009
Former world champion Tom Boonen has been allowed to take part in this year's Tour de France by a French arbitration court.
"After the decision announced on the 3rd of July by the Sport Arbitration Chamber, Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team will be at the start of the 2009 Tour de France," race organisers ASO said in a statement.
"ASO takes this decision into account. The management of the Tour de France believes that, considering the great champion that Tom Boonen is, he will relish the opportunity that has been given to him and that he will have an exemplary attitude during the event," they added.
The organisers had previously banned Boonen from the race, which starts on Saturday, after the Belgian failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April.
Boonen launched a court case against ASO but earlier this week a judge said she could not rule on the matter, sending it before the French sport arbitration court.
"It's been three months of stress," Boonen said at his team hotel in Monte Carlo.
"It will now be hard to focus on the race. But I am not seeking revenge. Revenge is something stupid. When you want to win, you win for yourself."
Briton Mark Cavendish, who finds himself with another rival for the best sprinter's green jersey, welcomed Boonen's entry into the three-week race.
"It changes many things, in a good way. Our team will have less pressure in the flat stages," Cavendish said.
Boonen's positive for cocaine in April was the 28-year-old's second offence in 12 months after he failed a test for the same substance last year.
The 2005 world champion missed last year's Tour following his first positive test.
The International Cycling Union said last month they would not open disciplinary proceedings against Boonen after they had threatened him with a six-month ban for spoiling the sport's image.
Failing an out-of-competition check for cocaine is not technically considered a positive doping test since the use of the substance is not banned between races.
Boonen, who won the Paris-Roubaix classic race for the third time in April, was banned by his Quick Step team on May 9 after it was announced he had failed the test and returned to racing last month.
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Comment 1 - 17 of 37
Boonen is a disgrace... Lets just hope the white lines on the road don't prove too much of a temptation for Tom
so the sport is talking about drug taking and its blue ribbon event has not even started yet.
get this rubbish off the sports pages and leave them ALL to it.
Last time i remember him waiting to hear if any legal charges were being brought,and saying that he had learned his lesson....what now?
i hope he will be tested, if he fails a drug test ban him for life, the sport does not need drug takers of any kind, KEEP THE SPORT CLEAN.
While I have no problem with Boonen, I really think it's a shame that Allan Davis who is squeaky clean and never been in any trouble misses out on the eve before the race starts. He must be gutted!
All fine and dandy there then, but didn't they parade the teams last night in Monaco, so whihc one of his unlucky teammates will have to be dropped from the highlight of there career race!!!
Would be nice for the team to kepep him dropped and make him learn his lesson.
Great news that Boonen can race... . too bad for Allan Davis though.
Well i'm not happy that he's in, or i guess the tour organisers. However, this might work out well for them, try to to get him banned so they look good...then have it overturned, best of both worlds. So lets all put the white line fever behind us and hope he puts on a decent show with cav, maybe he might try and get to the finish in Paris!!
Tom has been caught blantantly breaking the "law" by using cocaine twice within 12 months. This shows a total disregard for the rules by which we as a society govern ourselves. He is being allowed to race because of who he is and his reputation. Each year teams and many individual riders are not allowed to race because of a "percepation" of wrongdoing. Whereas Tom admitted to breaking the law and is not being punished for it. Even though after the first time he agreed to no punishmnet as long as he doesn't dabble in the "nose candy" within 3 years, WOW. Where is the fairness in this decision? Tom shouldn't be allowed to race in the "Crown Jewel" of cycling and then maybe he will learn that there are things you just shouldn't do.
Look at picture of Boonen above- it's a good job they edited the giant spliff from between his fingers.
Be the first for that white line, Boonen!!!
'
Good news- makes the flat stages more interesting and Cav is only as good as the rivals he's up against.
bet Tom is celebrating right now
Well I heard coke can be quite moreish, just like bakewell tarts.
Let the fun begin!!
Great pic too, Eurosport. Right Tom, put a finger up for each time you've been caught out taking coke... One, two, three... CHEESE!
Cool! Was only a bit of coke and they can't ban him for it as he broke no rules. Fair enough if he gets banged up by the rozzers tho as believe it is illegal for all us "normies". Bet he doesn't do it again, what a numpty for doing it twice any way, is he thick oor what?! Not sure about pot belge or whatever but makes the sprints more interesting now, let's see if he can keep up with Captain Cav and his Columbia Highwaymen!
Great news!
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