Vinokourov was third in the 2003 Tour de France

Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov cannot return to action until 24 July 2009 after a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling went against him.

Vinokourov was suspended for a year by the Kazakh federation after a doping offence in the 2007 Tour de France.

But cycling's governing body the UCI wanted a two-year ban from the date of the offence and took the case to CAS.

They dropped the case when Vinokourov said he was retiring before reopening it when he planned to race again.

"The decision adopted on 5 December 2007 by the anti-doping commission of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation is set aside," CAS said in a statement.

"Mr Vinokurov committed an anti-doping rule violation under Articles 15.2 of the Anti-Doping Regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale and...is declared ineligible for a period of two years commencing on 24 July 2007.

"Mr Vinokurov will be eligible to compete in international competitions as of 24 July 2009."

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