Lance Armstrong's doctor to stand trial

The doctor who helped Lance Armstrong cheat his way to seven Tour de France titles is going on trial in Italy for helping a biathlete to cheat.

Lance Armstrong's former physician, Michele Ferrari, has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly providing doping assistance to a biathlete.

Italian biathlete Daniel Taschler and his father Gottlieb - a vice president of biathlon's international federation - were also indicted by a preliminary judge in Bolzano on Wednesday.

The older Taschler is accused of recommending that his son use Ferrari for doping, and contacting the doctor.

Ferrari was banned for life by the Italian Cycling Federation in 2002. He recently appealed to a regional court to have the ban lifted, with a decision expected in the coming months.

Ferrari was also banned for life by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the 2012 case that led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

The trial is set to start in April.

Gottlieb Taschler won a bronze medal in relay at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Daniel Taschler, 28, was a member of Italy's B squad when the inquiry surfaced, and he was immediately suspended. His doping allegedly took place in the 2010-11 season.

Ferrari and the Taschlers deny wrongdoing.


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Source: AAP



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