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| Boonen admitted taking cocaine earlier this year [GALLO/GETTY] |
Former world champion Tom Boonen has been banned from the 2009 Tour de France following a positive test for cocaine earlier this year, organisers have announced.
Belgian Boonen, 28, won the world championships in 2005.
He failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April, his second offence in 12 months after he also tested positive for the same substance last year.
Boonen missed last year's Tour following his first failed test for cocaine.
Bad image
"The image of Tom Boonen is not compatible with that of the Tour de France," Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) said in a statement.
"Mr Boonen and his team can appeal before the Arbitration Court of the French National Olympic Committee," ASO added.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced they would not open disciplinary proceedings against Boonen after they had threatened him with a six-month ban for spoiling the sport's image.
"The UCI Management Committee has decided not to institute disciplinary proceedings against Mr Tom Boonen for having allegedly taken cocaine out of competition after the Belgian rider supplied a number of elements in his defence," the UCI said in a statement.
Failing an out-of-competition test 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 this month.
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