FORMER Australian Olympic cyclist Mark French has won a defammation case against a Melbourne newspaper that labelled him a drug cheat.

The 25-year-old sued the Herald Sun over two articles that were published in 2004.

He said he was happy with the win in which the court awarded him $175,000. He was cleared of doping charges in 2005.

“I’m very happy, it’s the last case. It’s been a long road over the last five years to vindicate my name, and now I’m just happy it’s all over,” he said.

“It’s finished on a positive note and I can move on with my life.”

- with the ABC