Boonen Allowed To Race By Arbitration Court

`We just got the news that Tom Boonen has the right to race, the team lawyer just announced it to us,` Quick Step spokesman said.

Former world champion Tom Boonen has been allowed to take part in this year's Tour de France by a French arbitration court, his Quick Step team said on Friday.

""We just got the news that Tom Boonen has the right to race, the team lawyer just announced it to us," Quick Step spokesman Alessandro Tegner told Reuters.

Tour organisers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) had banned Boonen from the race after the Belgian failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April.

The Tour de France starts on Saturday in Monaco.