Radio 5 Live's Simon Brotherton: "The evidence leads to a ban"

The former Festina team leader has protested his innocence ever since the team was thrown off the 1998 race.

But on Tuesday in Lille, investigating magistrate Patrick Kiel told Virenque and two other riders, that tests showed they had taken banned substances.

Virenque continues to deny the charge.

According to excerpts from an official report, released before the hearing, the riders took EPO (erythropoieten), steroids and human growth hormone.

The 1998 Tour de France was dogged by drugs from the start.

Festina were thrown out when team masseur Willy Voet was caught transporting 400 containers of banned substances three days before the event started in Ireland.

Former Festina Bruno Roussel admitted drug programme

Team director Bruno Roussel admitted the team had supplied drugs to its riders.

Despite other riders' admissions of guilt, Virenque left the race in tears, denying involvement.

But BBC Radio 5 Live's cycling reporter Simon Brotherton said the Frenchman has increasingly looked like King Canute as the tide comes in all around him.

He added that the judgment leaves his reputation in tatters - a ban now seems likely.

His future at Festina was already in doubt, with a move to another team likely after his existing employers offered him a new contract with a 50% pay cut.