/ 15 December 2005

Armstrong to go on trial for defamation

American Lance Armstrong, the seven-times Tour de France winner who retired last July, will go on trial for defamation after losing a preliminary hearing against Italian Filippo Simeoni on Wednesday.

Armstrong famously tarnished the Italian rider a ”liar” in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde in 2003 after Simeoni had given evidence in 2002 to magistrates investigating disgraced Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari.

Last year, Ferrari — who is alleged to have helped dozens of top athletes to administer illegal substances safely — was found guilty of sporting fraud and illegally acting as a pharmacist. Ferrari has appealed the verdict.

Armstrong in 2001 admitted he had been collaborating with Ferrari, who at the peak of his career in cycling told one journalist that using the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) was no more dangerous than orange juice.

On Wednesday, court Judge Nicola Insiti rejected a claim by Armstrong’s defence and ordered a hearing to be held on March 7 next year.

Once Simeoni’s spat with Armstrong became apparent in the cycling peloton, the Italian began to feel the heat from several fellow professionals.

At the end of the 2004 Tour de France, Armstrong famously tried to humiliate Simeoni. He chased down the Italian as he went on a breakaway to prevent him taking any advantage on the group.

The American was placed under formal investigation in Italy for that stunt, although the investigation was closed earlier this year.

Simeoni, meanwhile, said he hopes justice will be done.

”Sooner or later the truth always comes out and justice will be done,” he told Italian agency Ansa. ”I’m relaxed and still feel I am in the right. I’m waiting for March 7 with confidence.” — Sapa-AFP