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.

Brussels - Former world champion Tom Boonen on Saturday escaped uninjured after being involved in a car accident en route to the Brussels airport.

A Flamish TV station reported that the accident occurred when the 2005 world champion had to evade an oncoming car and ended up crashing into a tree.

VTM station reported police as saying that Boonen was uninjured but that the car had been damaged.