London (AFP)
The suspension of the Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen, prosecuted in particular for sexual assault since August 2019, was lifted Thursday by the European Circuit after the postponement until the end of 2021 of his trial, initially scheduled for May 11.
"Due to this substantial and unprecedented delay, the European Tour has agreed to lift its suspension with immediate effect, which allows it to return to competition" while continuing to defend itself, the body said in a statement .
Winner of the prestigious Ryder Cup with the European team in 2018, the 30-year-old golfer is suspected of having sexually assaulted a female passenger during a British Airways flight to London in late July 2019.
He was also prosecuted for being drunk and for his aggressive behavior during the same flight.
Olesen was arrested on July 29 when he arrived at London Heathrow Airport and released. In December the Dane pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him. However, by mutual agreement with the European Tour, he had withdrawn from the greens from August 6 until the end of his trial.
It was to be held on May 11, but the Covid-19 pandemic has considerably delayed the legal proceedings: Olesen will be tried on December 6, 2021 at the earliest.
"If my team and I had initially agreed that I would not participate in the European Tour tournaments during the legal proceedings, I am obviously grateful to the European circuit which allows me to continue my career", said reacted the golfer.
The decision of the European Tour comes a few days after the resumption of the tournaments, after a long interruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stopped in March, the season will resume on July 22 behind closed doors in England.
The American circuit has resumed since June 11, and hopes to welcome spectators in limited numbers again in mid-July.
© 2020 AFP