Boonen case to be examined

The Belgian launched a court case against organiser Amaury Sport Organisation when it decided he could not start the Tour after testing positive for cocaine, but a judge said she could not rule on the matter, sending it before an arbitration panel of the French Olympic Committee.

"The file will be examined on Thursday and everything will be done so that we can make a decision before the start of the Tour," said a spokesperson for the French Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The 28-year-old Boonen, who won the world championship in 2005, failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April, his second offence in 12 months after testing positive for the same substance last year. He missed last year's Tour following his first failed test.

This year, he was suspended by his Quick Step team before returning to racing last month.

An out-of-competition positive test for cocaine does not carry an automatic sanction, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency rules.