Chelsea Relief: Transfer Ban Lifted, For Now

November 6, 2009 10:45 a.m. EST

London, England (AHN) - Carlo Ancelotti will be a happy man on right now.

Already two points clear at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea received a further boost to their title hopes when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) temporarily lifted their FIFA imposed transfer ban.

The ban related to the signing of young French midfielder Gael Kakuta from Lens, and meant that Chelsea would've been unable to sign any new players until January 2011.

However the club appealed FIFA's ruling that they had illegally induced Kakuta to leave Lens, to CAS who ruled the ban will not apply until they have ruled on the case.

No date has been set thus far for CAS to rule, so Chelsea is free to bring players in once the January transfer window opens.

The lifting of the ban will not please rivals however.

Chelsea appeared to be vulnerable in January, as several star players including Michael Essien and Didier Drogba, will be unavailable to the club due to international commitments in the African Cup of Nations.