Cycling: French police probe Armstrong doping claims

LYON, FRANCE - A French judge confirmed today a preliminary probe had been launched into doping claims against Tour de France six-times winner Lance Armstrong.

The American has vigorously and consistently denied the allegations.

The judge from the Alpine city of Annecy has ordered local police to investigate after the publication last year of a book entitled "LA Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong."

Written by journalists Pierre Ballester and David Walsh, the book quoted Emma O'Reilly, the rider's former masseuse, as saying Armstrong had asked her to get rid of a bag containing needles used by him on the 1998 Tour of the Netherlands.

O'Reilly was heard by Paris police last year and has stuck by her allegations, French daily Le Parisien said on Thursday.

Others witnesses were also heard by the end of 2004 and the case has been handed over to the Annecy judge who will decide after the police probe whether to pursue matters.

Last July, a Paris appeals court turned down Armstrong's request that the book should include his outright denial of the allegations.

Armstrong said last week he would decide in April whether he would take part in this year's Tour de France.

- REUTERS