MONACO, July 3 Former world champion Tom Boonen has been allowed to take part in this year's Tour de France by a French arbitration court, his Quick Step team said on Friday.

“We just got the news that Tom Boonen has the right to race, the team lawyer just announced it to us,” Quick Step spokesman Alessandro Tegner told Reuters.

A news conference was scheduled for 1230 GMT at Boonen's team hotel in Monte Carlo.

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

The Tour de France starts on Saturday in Monaco.

Briton Mark Cavendish, who finds himself with a new 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, who won world championships in 2005, failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April. It was the 28-year-old's second offence in 12 months after he tested positive for the same substance last year.

He missed last year's Tour following his first failed test for cocaine.

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.—Reuters