|
No hearing in Armstrong defamation case
(Total Bike)
Updated: 2006-01-27 11:09
A criminal court refused to hear a defamation brought by Italian cyclist
Filippo Simeoni against Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner.
Lance Armstrong
laughs while he answers questions at a news conference for the Discovery
Channel Pro Cycling Team to discuss the team's goals, new additions, and
plan for the 2006 racing season in Los Angeles, California January 24,
2006. [Reuters] |
|
Judicial officials said Monday the statute of limitations had expired in the
case against the seven-time Tour de France winner. The court said Simeoni's
lawyers misinterpreted French law.
Armstrong, quoted in an April 2003 report in the online edition of French
daily Le Monde, contended that Simeoni had agreed to testify against doctor
Michele Ferrari in exchange for a lesser penalty if the Italian rider were
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 March 7 trial in Italy on civil charges of defaming
Simeoni. Armstrong is being investigated for pursuing the Italian during a stage
of last year's Tour de France and reportedly threatening him for testifying
about doping in a trial of Ferrari.
|
