Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen will not be allowed into this year's Tour de France after testing positive for cocaine.
It was revealed on Tuesday the 2005 world champion failed an out-of-competition drugs test at the end of May, three days prior to the start of the Tour of Belgium.
‘Boonen will not be welcome,’ said race director Christian Prudhomme.
‘I had to wait until this morning's (Wednesday’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.’
The move will not affect Boonen's team, Quick Step, who will not be banned from the Tour.
The World Anti-Doping Agency does not list cocaine as a banned substance out of competition.
The International Cycling Union have intimated he will not face censure from them, but Tour organisers have decided differently.
The 27-year-old was involved in a similar scandal regarding cocaine in December when another cyclist, Tom Vanoppen, tested positive for the substance and claimed it had been supplied to him by Boonen.
