French cyclist Richard Virenque has admitted in court today that he took banned substances to keep his place on the Festina team. Although he swore at the trial in Lille yesterday that he never knowingly took drugs to improve his performance, today he did a u-turn and admitted his involvement in the scandal. Virenque is the most high-profile of the 10 defendants charged with various offences connected with encouraging and facilitating the use of illegal drugs in sporting competitions. He explained to the court why he became involved with taking these substances: "I was like a sheep and if I had strayed out of the flock I was finished. I just went with the flow."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
