Cycling: Armstrong case 'too late'

A Paris criminal court has refused to hear a defamation case brought by Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni against Lance Armstrong.

Judicial officials said the statute of limitations expired in the case against the seven-time Tour de France winner.

Armstrong, quoted in an April, 2003, report in the online edition of French newspaper Le Monde, contended that Simeoni had agreed to testify against doctor Michele Ferrari in exchange for a lesser penalty if the Italian rider was accused of doping by the sport's governing body.

Ferrari received a suspended jail sentence for a year in October, 2004, for sports fraud and malpractice. Ferrari once advised Armstrong but the star cyclist cut his ties with him after the doctor was convicted.

Armstrong faces a trial on March 7 in Italy on civil charges of defaming Simeoni.