Tom Boonen given last-minute clearance to ride in Tour

The French court's decision comes one day before the start of the 2009 Tour de France in Monaco. According to Boonen's team Quick Step, the Belgian will be a part of it's nine-man Tour de France team.

Boonen tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition drug test in April. It was the second positive cocaine test for Boonen in a year. Boonen was barred from participating in last year's Tour de France as a result of the first positive test.

Initially, Tour de France organizers Amaury Sports Organization (ASO) banned Boonen from participating in this year's Tour after the second failed drug test, but Boonen appealed the decision. On Monday, a French civil court ruled that it not have jurisdiction in the case, and no decision was reached. Boonen's lawyers then took the appeal before the French Olympic Committee's arbitration panel, which issued its decision on Friday.

Boonen has still been riding and competing since the failed drug test. Last weekend, he won the Belgian national cycling championships in Aywaille, the first senior title of his career in his home country. In 2005, he was the world road race champion.

Cycling's governing body, UCI, has decided not to take disciplinary action against Boonen because the positive test did not occur during a competition period, and cocaine is not a banned substance between races.

mz/AFP/Reuters/AP
Editor: Trinity Hartman