MONACO, (Reuters) – Former world champion Tom Boonen  has been allowed to take part in this year’s Tour de France by a  French arbitration court, race organisers said yesterday.

“After the decision announced on the 3rd of July by the  Sport Arbitration Chamber, Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team  will be at the start of the 2009 Tour de France,” organisers  said in a statement.

“ASO takes this decision into account. The management of the  Tour de France believes that, considering the great champion  that Tom Boonen is, he will relish the opportunity that has been  given to him and that he will have an exemplary attitude during  the event,” they added.

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

Boonen launched a court case against ASO but earlier this  week a judge said she could not rule on the matter, sending it  before the French sport arbitration court.

“It’s been three months of stress,” Boonen told a news  conference at his team hotel in Monte Carlo.
“It will now be hard to focus on the race. But I am not  seeking revenge. Revenge is something stupid. When you want to  win, you win for yourself.”

Briton Mark Cavendish, who finds himself with another rival  for the best sprinter’s green jersey, welcomed Boonen’s entry  into the three-week race.

“It changes many things, in a good way. Our team will have  less pressure in the flat stages,” Cavendish said.
Boonen’s positive for cocaine in April was the 28-year-old’s  second offence in 12 months after he failed a test for the same  substance last year.

The 2005 world champion missed last year’s Tour following  his first positive test.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) said last month they  would not open disciplinary proceedings against Boonen after  they had threatened him with a six-month ban for spoiling the  sport’s image.

Failing an out-of-competition check 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  last month.