The French Cycling Federation has given Pierre Rolland the go-ahead to return to racing. The Team Europcar rider had been requested to hand back his licence for eight days after he recorded peculiarly low levels of cortisol in a test carried out on the final weekend of the recently concluded Critérium du Dauphiné.

Rolland and Team Europcar added fuel to debate by starting the final stage of the Dauphiné despite his low level of cortisol - which could be indicative of corticoid use or of fatigue - although the Frenchman pulled out early in the stage due to an alleged Achilles tendon injury.

Following additional testing by the French Cycling Federation, Rolland was cleared to return to action on Tuesday. Team Europcar team doctor Hubert Long told RMC radio that Rolland had “received a confirmation email from the federation. Everything is ok, he is going to get his licence back.”

Rolland will thus be able to take his place as leader of Team Europcar’s Tour de France team alongside Thomas Voeckler and he is also expected to line up at the French championships in Brittany on Sunday. Rolland has won stages in each of the past two Tours and finished eighth overall last year.