Lawyer to investigate Lance Armstrong doping claims

Cycling's international ruling body has appointed a Dutch lawyer to investigate claims that Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong failed a drugs test.

A French newspaper has claimed samples given by the American in 1999 contained the banned substance EPO.

At that time, doping tests were unable to detect EPO, but a re-examination of Armstrong's samples using newer procedures reportedly uncovered traces of the drug.

Armstrong, who has won the Tour de France in each of the last seven years, has denied ever taking any banned substances.