Turnhout, Belgium - Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen will not face further sanctions over cocaine use, a court in Turnhout ruled on Tuesday.

The judges accepted a request by Boonen's lawyer to dismiss the charges against the 28-year-old Quick-Step cyclist.

Boonen, who is idolized like a pop star in Belgium, tested positive for cocaine during an out-of-competition test in May last year.

The judges said that he had been penalized enough by testing positive. His image suffered as a result and he had to pay a fine issued by his team.

Boonen, who was not in court as he is competing in the Tour of Qatar, has to pay the court costs. If he had been found guilty he could have faced a prison term of between three months and five years and paid a substantial fine.

After his hair sample during the test showed that he regularly used cocaine, he was banned from competing in last year's Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France 2008.

He will be allowed to race in both races this year. (dpa)