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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 19, 2009

Cycling: Boonen to take Tour de France organizers to court


Associated Press

Cyclist Tom Boonen plans to take Tour de France organizers to court over their refusal to let him compete because of a second positive test for cocaine in less than year.

Boonen and his Quick Step team made the announcement on Friday. The Belgian rider plans to file suit Monday in a court in Paris.

Boonen and the team made the decision after the organization that owns the Tour announced Thursday that the cyclist would be banned. However, the international cycling federation decided not to take action against him because the latest positive test in April came during a rest period between races.

The 28-year-old cyclist tested positive for the same drug in May 2008 and was banned by Tour organizers from last year's event.