Team GB’s Jason Kenny has been crowned 2011 world sprint champion.

The 23-year-old was promoted from runner-up following today’s decision by cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, to strip Frenchman, Gregory Bauge, of the title for administrative failures around routine drug tests.

Kenny said: “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. I am looking forward to riding the rest of the season wearing the rainbow jersey.”

Kenny had finished second to Bauge in the individual sprint final at the 2011 World Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland, last March. Sir Chris Hoy, who had taken bronze in Apeldoorn, has been promoted to silver.

The UCI’s action against Bauge means that the French Team Sprint squad loses the gold won in Apeldoorn, making Germany the world champions and promoting Team GB to the silver medal position.

Bauge was disciplined for one missed drugs test, and issues surrounding rider availability.

In a statement, the UCI said: “Following the decision on November 8th of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme’s (FFC) National Disciplinary Commission to inflict a one-year backdated suspension – from December 23rd 2010 to December 22nd 2011 – on Grégory Baugé for violation of article 21.4 of the UCI Anti-doping Regulation (two breaches of applicable requirements regarding rider availability and one missed test in 18 months) the UCI today informed the FFC that all the results obtained by the rider and by any team of which he was a member during that period have been nullified by this decision (art. 12.1.032.1 and art. 12.1.035).

“The UCI is therefore obliged to correct the results of the events in which Grégory Baugé participated during this period.

“As a consequence, the rider and the French team lose their individual sprint and team sprint titles won at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in March 2011.”