Drug charges dismissed against Downey Jr

Drug charges against Robert Downey Jr have been dismissed by a judge, who also ended his probation.

Riverside County Superior Court judge Randall White made his ruling after determining that the actor had been clean and sober for 14 months.

His lawyer says he is "absolutely ecstatic and very optimistic he'll be able to stay sober and get movie parts again."

Downey told the judge he was serious about staying out of trouble.

The actor was sentenced last July to a year at a live-in rehabilitation centre and three years' probation after pleading guilty to cocaine possession and being under the influence.

Downey, nominated for an Oscar for Chaplin in 1992 and for an Emmy for Ally McBeal, was arrested at a Palm Springs hotel, Florida, in November 2000.

Any breach of probation could have sent him to prison for up to four years.

Downey's legal troubles started in 1996 when authorities found cocaine, heroin and a gun in his vehicle.

A month later he was found passed out in a neighbour's home and was sent to a substance abuse treatment centre. Three days later, he was arrested for leaving the centre.

In August 1999, Downey was sentenced to three years in prison for breach of probation by missing drug tests.