SAINT-PAUL-EN-JARREZ, France: Former world champion Tom Boonen, under investigation for suspected cocaine possession, has been barred from competing in the Tour de France, race director Christian Prudhomme said on Wednesday.

The Belgian, who won the green jersey for the best sprinter of the Tour last year, is being investigated after traces of the drug were found in a urine sample taken last month.

"Boonen will not be welcome," Prudhomme told Reuters.

"I had to wait until this morning's press conference, until I had talked with Tom Boonen and Patrick Lefevere, his manager (before making a decision)."

"I told them that Tom Boonen could not take part in the Tour de France. It is not a doping case, it is not about a rider who took substances to improve his performances but it is about a private matter," he added.

"Clearly, this affair hits the integrity of the Tour de France and the integrity of the riders participating in the race. The link has been made with the Tour."

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in the Belgian city of Turnhout said Boonen was being investigated. Police carried out a series of searches on Monday but found no evidence.

Boonen told a news conference earlier on Wednesday that his Quick Step team had assured him of their continued confidence, but he did not directly address the drug issue in a short statement.

"I am not going to conduct my defense here and now," Boonen said, adding only that he was "not perfect" and apologised for the embarrassment the affair had caused his friends.

Boonen faces a spell of between three months to five years in prison if found guilty but does not risk sanctions from the International Cycling Union as positive cocaine tests out-of-competition do not carry a penalty.

The Belgian, who won the world road race championship in 2005, has six Tour stages to his name.

On Monday, Tour of Switzerland organizers barred the 27-year-old from competing at this year's race but said the Quick Step team would be allowed to take part in the event starting on Saturday.

Agencies

(China Daily 06/13/2008 page24)