Cyclist Hamilton cleared by blood test

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A second blood test has cleared American cyclist Tyler Hamilton of doping allegations, it was announced Thursday in Switzerland.

The 33-year-old Hamilton will keep the gold medal he won in the road time trial at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Hamilton had failed a blood anti-doping test. The International Olympic Committee had been informed by the World Anti-Doping Agency's accredited laboratory in Athens of a suspicious result following the analysis of Hamilton's blood sample provided on Aug. 19, one day after the race.

But a second test this week proved inconclusive and the IOC said it "would not be pursuing sanctions regarding this matter."

Hamilton denied the allegations from the start, saying he was "100 percent innocent."