The ongoing doping trial against Belgian veterinarian José Landuyt and former riders Johan Museeuw, Mario De Clercq, Jo Planckaert and Chris Pears has been postponed until June 25 after a request from Museeuw's lawyer Jozef Lievens, currently busy with another court case in Belgium. According to Sportwereld, the trial was initially re-scheduled for June 19 but had to be delayed further because Landuyt's lawyer Jef Vermassen was not available over this period. None of the accused were present at the court in Kortrijk, Belgium on Monday.
The case dates back to 2003 when doping products Aranesp, EPO and Dexomethasone were allegedly found by police after a raid on Museeuw's home. Further evidence came from the well publicised SMS conversations between Museeuw and Landuyt which appeared to discuss doping products, methods of use and ways to circumvent controls. The other riders are also accused of possessing EPO and other banned substances.
