Former World Champ Tom Boonen Banned From Tour De France After Testing Positive

June 12, 2008 4:20 p.m. EST

Paris, France (AHN) - Former world cycling champion Tom Boonen was barred on Wednesday from competing at this year's Tour de France following positive results for cocaine.

The 27-year-old rider, who earned the green jersey as the best sprinter in last year's Tour, will not be allowed to compete at next month's Tour de France after testing positive for cocaine. However, Boonen's Quick Step team will be allowed to compete in the said race.

Boonen, who was also barred from competing in the Tour of Switzerland slated on Saturday, was released without any charges filed against him on Monday following questioning by authorities in Turnhout, Belgium regarding the test results. Aside from the dope results, Boonen also had trouble last week after police stopped him for speeding and was later found to be driving under the influence.

"I am not going to defend myself here, but I have caused my family, friends and team pain and I apologize for that," the 2005 world champion told the BBC. "I have been in the news in a negative way lately. I am not perfect and will accept the consequences."

Meanwhile, the International Cycling Union (UCI) through its spokesman Enrico Carpani said that Boonen will not be sanctioned by the body as the tests came out of competition. He added that there was no official notification of the drug tests and that drug infractions committed three days before any race is considered out of competition.

"If Boonen is tested positive for cocaine, it's not a sports problem," Carpani told the BBC. "There is no violation as, in out-of-competition tests [,]; cocaine is not a forbidden substance for the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code and UCI anti-doping rules."

Aside from Boonen, defending champion Alberto Contador was earlier banned from the Tour de France following doping scandals against his Astana team prior to his arrival.

On April, Boonen bested former champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland in a sprint finish to capture the prestigious Paris-Roubaix cycling classic.