Thursday 24 January 2013 14:10, UK
Tom Boonen has been withdrawn from the Tour of Qatar as he continues to recover from surgery on an arm infection.
Boonen spent a few days in hospital after the surgery but is now free from both infection and pain. He was due to be released on Thursday, pending a final check-up. "I'm happy the situation now is improving, even if I am still weak," Boonen said. "To have news released I can go home is good because it was a difficult moment for me and my family."