BOLTON cyclng star Jason Kenny has spoken of his muted joy at becoming world individual sprint champion after Gregory Bauge was stripped of the title for drug test infringements.

Frenchman Bauge won the event in Apeldorn in March, but the sport’s world governing body the UCI stripped it from him, which now means Kenny will wear the coveted rainbow jersey, worn by champions for the rest of the season while British rival Sir Chris Hoy also moves up from bronze to silver.

“The news came as quite a surprise, and whilst it’s an honour to get my first senior world championship title, I would have preferred to have achieved it under different circumstances,” said 23-year-old Kenny, pictured.

“I am looking forward to riding the rest of the season with the rainbow jersey.”

For Kenny, who won the team sprint title at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, it is a first world gold.

The UCI acted after Bauge was given a 12-month suspension from the French federation after the racer missed one test in 18 months, violating rules governing rider availability for drug tests.

The suspension was backdated to December 23, 2010 which expired on the same date in 2011, but the UCI decided that all Bauge’s results in that period would be annulled.

France also forfeited the team spring world title in which Bauge took part.

Kenny beat Hoy in the semifinal, but subsequently lost his clash with Bauge for the individual title.

Bauge’s backdated suspension means he is clear to compete at London 2012, having helped France to a silver medal behind Britain in the team sprint at the Beijing Olympics.

He is also likely to feature in February’s Olympic test event at the velodrome on the Olympic Park, which doubles as a stage of track cycling’s World Cup and is likely to feature both Hoy and Kenny in the British line up.