Tom Boonen will be allowed to compete in the Tour de France after a successful appeal over his drugs ban.

Race organisers Amaury Sport Organisation had banned the 28-year-old from taking part after he tested positive for cocaine in April in an out-of-competition test.

The Quick Step rider looked set to miss the Tour for the second successive year after a French court ruled late last month that they were powerless to make a judgement on his suspension.

However, Boonen then took his case to the Court of Arbitration of the French Olympic Committee, who have ruled - a day before the showpiece event gets under way - that he should be permitted to take part.

A statement on the official Tour website, www.letour.fr, read: "After the decision announced on the 3rd of July by the Sport Arbitration Chamber (Chambre Arbitrale du Sport, CAS), Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team will be at the start of the 2009 Tour de France. ASO takes this decision into account.

"The management of the Tour de France believes that, considering the great champion that Tom Boonen is, he will relish the opportunity that has been given to him and that he will have an exemplary attitude during the event."

The Quick Step team posted a brief statement on their website, www.qsi-cycling.com, which read: "Good news for our Belgian champion!

"The Chambre Arbitrale Francaise du Sport has decided that Tom Boonen may compete in the Tour de France. Around 2.30pm there will be a press conference."

Boonen was banned from the Tour last year after he tested positive for cocaine in May.