Tom Meeusen can still dream about the Worlds in Tabor.  The Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (BAS) has decided that the federation is obliged to select Tom Meeusen for the World Cup race in Hoogerheide and the World Championships in Tabor. The union shall abide by the decision of BAS and the UCI has taken notice of the ruling.

In addition to Tom Meeusen, Bart Wellens and U23 riders Laurens Sweeck were not selected by national coach Rudy De Bie for the World Cup in Hoogerheide and the World Championships in Tabor. The trio is named in an investigation of a doctor in Rotselaar who specializes in the controversial ozone therapy. According to UCI regulations, they are not allowed participate in the World Championships and World Cup.

Meeusen and co took the case to the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (BAS) to force their way into the events. BAS has now decided that the federation has to select Tom Meeusen for the World Cup race in Hoogerheide and the World Championships in Tabor.

When the federation will select its riders for Tabor on Monday, it can only take sporting criteria into consideration. "If Tom Meeusen is not selected, a written justification of the decision has to be given," the BAS ruling said.

Meeusen’s registration for the World Cup had to be given before 12am. If not, the union has to pay a fine of 50,000 euros. But it won’t come that far because the federation will accept the BAS ruling and will register the riders for the World Cup and the World Championships. On Monday, coach Rudy De Bie will announce his new roster.

"I am satisfied with the BAS decision but it has been physically and mentally extremely tough to prepare myself for Hoogerheide and Tabor," Meeusen told Sporza in a first reaction.

For the Sunday’s World Cup race in Hoogerheide, Meeusen, Wellens and Sweeck will all be selected because they are all in the top 50 of the UCI rankings. For the World Championships, it is different.. "Tom Meeusen should be selected for the Worlds because he is in the top three of the UCI rankings," said lawyer Kristof De Saedeleer.

For Sweeck and Wellens, the federation is ordered to take a new decision on their non-selection for the Worlds. "I've already had Bart Wellens on the list. It's up to him to prove himself on Sunday in Hoogerheide,” De Bie said.

"This is a just decision from FAS. Kudos to them because they have worked so fast.”

The International Cycling Union, UCI has also commented on the BAS ruling. "The UCI has taken notice of the decision from FAS. At this moment we will not intervene in the case but we continue to follow the developments in the case," a statement read.