Bruyneel will fight charges
Lance Armstrong's former team manager Johan Bruyneel will fight charges of allegedly engaging in a long-running doping conspiracy.
Last Updated: 14/07/12 2:54pm
Lance Armstrong's former team manager Johan Bruyneel will fight charges of allegedly engaging in a long-running doping conspiracy.
Bruyneel is one of six people, along with seven-times Tour de France champion Armstrong, facing charges of being involved in a major doping conspiracy by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
"Mr Bruyneel has requested to move forward in the process and have his case heard at an arbitration hearing, which can be open to the public," USADA said in a statement.
"As in all cases, during the arbitration hearing, all the evidence will be presented, witness testimony will be subject to cross examination and will be given under oath, and an independent panel of arbitrators will ultimately determine the outcome of the case."
The Belgian, who as a team manager has won nine Tour de France titles - seven with Armstrong and two with Spaniard Alberto Contador - confirmed Saturday he had chosen the former option.
"I can confirm that I have requested an arbitration hearing in which I will contest USADA's accusations against me," Bruyneel announced on his website.
"It is my hope that a properly constituted, impartial hearing panel will confirm that the case should never even have gotten this far."
