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Michele Ferrari tries to have Lance Armstrong film The Program blocked

Banned doctor claims he never injected disgraced cyclist with EPO, as shown in one scene

Lawyers acting for Michele Ferrari, the doctor serving a life ban from involvement with sport, are trying to have the film The Program, which details how Lance Armstrong cheated his way to seven Tour de France victories, banned in Italy.

The Stephen Frears-directed film, which stars Ben Foster as Armstrong, is due to open in Italy today, but criminal law firm Studio Bolognesi, is trying to have it blocked, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The firm, which has offices in Milan, Bologna, Ferrara and Rome, is also reportedly seeking damages on behalf of Ferrari, who is played in the movie by the French actor, Guillaume Canet

- Video: New trailer released for Lance Armstrong film, The Program

The reason Ferrari wants the film pulled is because he claims he never injected Armstrong with EPO – something that is included in one scene from The Program.

The 62-year-old was banned from working with professional cyclists in Italy in 2002, and in 2012 was given a worldwide lifetime ban as a result of the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation into doping at the former US Postal Service team by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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5 comments

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Colin Peyresourde | 8 years ago
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Have just got back from watching this. Not a film I would recommend. It is full of pastiche episodes and they never flesh out the characters. Watch 'the Armstrong Lie' instead......

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
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Julian Lennon played by Paul Kaye?

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Dnnnnnn | 8 years ago
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If he gets off the hook for this one, there's a Mr Blatter who might like to engage those lawyers.

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Jonny_Trousers | 8 years ago
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Fair enough, really: the man has to think of his reputation  3

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steviemarco | 8 years ago
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So he didn't physically inject Armstrong but is guilty of everything else, think he needs to just take that on the chin as it's only a film.

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