The trial of pro-cycling coach and sport doctor Michele Ferrari for drug offences began yesterday in Bologna, Italy and several top cyclists are due to be called as witnesses.

Ferrari faces four seperate allegations: administering harmful substances; abusing his profession; trading in banned dietary supplements and sporting fraud. Among the cyclists giving evidence are the former Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Gotti, Abraham Olano, Gianni Faresin, Tony Rominger, Claudio Chiappucci, and Gianluca Bortolami. The prosecution are also presenting taped ‘phone calls, prescriptions and a list of drugs allegedly found at Ferrari’s house by police.

If convicted Ferrari will face the likelihood of a jail sentence, but he is confident that he will be acquitted. Amidst all the unpleasantness of the allegations Ferrari seems to be able to have the support of Lance Armstrong who has resisted any pressure to disassociate himself from Ferrari and instead has publicly said that he believes him to be an innocent and honest man, and has stated that in the six years of their working relationship he never witnessed anything to indicate otherwise.