Boonen out of Tour

Tour de France green jersey champion Tom Boonen has been barred from next month's race in the wake of a positive test for cocaine.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme told AFP on Wednesday that Boonen would not be at the Brest start line on July 5 because his positive test, while not performance-enhancing, damaged the reputation of the race.

Boonen, the winner of last year's green jersey for the race's points competition, tested positive in an out of competition control by the ministry of the Flemish Community on May 26.

The 2005 world champion and reigning Paris-Roubaix champion was given the support of his Quick Step team at a press conference on Wednesday.

However Boonen, a six-time stage winner at the Tour de France and one of the biggest faces in cycling, has fallen victim to the race's code of ethics, which has been reinforced in the wake of continuous doping affairs.

A 'good conduct' charter has also been signed by all teams participating in the Tour and the race owners.

Prudhomme said he had alreay spoken to Boonen and his team manager Patrick Lefevere to inform him of his decision.

He said: "As far as we are concerned, Tom Boonen is automatically ruled out of the Tour de France as soon as the information concerning his case has been confirmed."

In supporting his star rider, Quick Step manager Lefevere had earlier stressed the difference between "real doping problems" in cycling and the difficulties of a "private" nature of their star.

Prudhomme recognised the difference in both cases, but said the race could not afford to be associated with riders involved in taking drugs.

"It's not a case of performances being improved, this is something that has happened in a social sphere well outside of sport," added Prudhomme.

"Tom Boonen is a big champion but a big champion must also be exemplary. "The integrity of the Tour, and of the teams participating in the Tour, could be harmed."