Dr. Ferrari and son skip doping hearing on biathlete

ROME — Lance Armstrong’s former physician, Michele Ferrari, and his son Stefano have informed the Italian Olympic Committee’s anti-doping prosecutor that they will not attend a hearing over allegedly providing illegal drug assistance to a biathlete.

CONI says the Ferraris’ lawyer announced his clients’ intentions for Friday’s questioning.

Italian biathlete Daniel Taschler and his father, Gottlieb — a vice president of the international federation — had their hearing postponed for 10 days to Sept. 14 after requesting a delay.

CONI is acting on investigations by prosecutors in Padua and Bolzano, who allege that the Ferraris supplied the Taschlers with banned drugs via illegal sales methods.

Michele Ferrari was banned for life by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in the 2012 case that led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.