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Police: Festina riders could face judge this week

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Posted: Wednesday July 22, 1998 10:03 AM

Team doctor Eric Rykaert (left) arrives to testify AP

LILLE, France (CNN/SI) -- Police said that Festina's cyclists may be called to give evidence before a judge in an investigation in the drug scandal surrounding the team before the end of the week.

Team leader Richard Virenque, world champion Laurent Brochard, Swiss Laurent Dufaux and Alex Zuelle are set to give evidence to Judge Patrick Keil. Virenque said last Saturday he was unaware of the use of drugs in the team.

Festina masseur Willy Voet was arrested at the Franco-Belgian border on July 8 on a charge of smuggling illegal substances. Investigators appear puzzled by the quantity of products, over 400 vials, that Voet had in his possession.

Festina was kicked out of the tour last Friday after their director, Bruno Roussel, confessed that doping substances were made available to his team.

Police have said they will be looking closely into the accounts of the Festina company which is based in Andorra.

The investigation coincides with a case in Reims involving the discovery last March of doping substances in a car belonging to the Dutch cycling team TVM.

In Paris, two members of Parliament have called for the creation of an official investigating body on doping.

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Reuters contributed to this report.