Thorbjorn Olesen's European Tour suspension lifted due to lengthy court delay

Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, who won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, had been suspended from the European Tour since last August. Picture: Getty Images

Former Dunhill Links champion Thorbjorn Olesen has had his European Tour suspension lifted pending the outcome of the criminal case against him.

The Dane, a Ryder Cup winner on his debut in France in 2018, began a suspension last August after he was arrested and charged on three counts following an alleged incident on a flight from Nashville to London.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges at a court hearing in December, but delays in legal proceedings due to the coronavirus has seen his suspension lifted.

"Due to this significant and unparalleled delay in the legal process, the European Tour has agreed that his suspension be lifted with immediate effect, allowing him to compete while he continues to contest the case," said a statement from the circuit.

"This will be reviewed following the conclusion of the legal process, but as this is an on-going legal matter the European Tour will be making no further comment at this time."

It was initially mutually agreed between the European Tour and Olesen that it would be inappropriate for the player to continue to participate in events until the conclusion of his trial, which was originally fixed for 11 May this year.

However, all parties have now been informed by the UK courts that, following the disruption caused by the pandemic, Olesen’s trial will not now take place until 6 December, 2021 at the earliest - a total of 854 days from August 6, 2019.

"While my team and I initially agreed that I would not participate in tour events while the legal proceedings were outstanding, I am naturally grateful to the European Tour for allowing me to continue my career following the lengthy adjournment of my trial," said Olsen, who won the Dunhill Links in 2015.

"Obviously, the case itself is still on-going, so I will continue to make no comment about it."

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