UCI won’t pursue action against Tom Boonen “after the Belgian rider supplied a number of elements in his defence.” But the Tour still won’t have him.

Boonen’s team, Quick Step, has promised the Belgian its backing, including legal support, according to the report. Still, it would do no good, as UCI has said it cannot complete such the requisite appellate process in time for the July 4 start of the Tour.

Is it ironic to anyone else that cycling might be the one sport where being caught with performance-enhancing drugs creates more of a stir than does testing positive for, shale we say, recreational pharmaceuticals?