The French Court of Arbitration for Sport says the former world champion cyclist Tom Boonen's appeal to take part in the Tour de France will be examined tonight.
The Belgian launched a court case against the tour organiser ASO when it decided he could not start after testing positive for cocaine.
But a judge declined to rule on the matter, sending it to a French Olympic Committee.
arbitration panel.
The 28-year-old Boonen won the world championship in 2005 and failed an out-of-competition test for cocaine in April.
His second offence in 12 months after testing positive for the same substance last year saw him miss last year's Tour.
However World Anti-Doping Agency rules do not automatically sanction an out-of-competition positive test for cocaine.
