Zidane named in Ferrari drug inquiry

Zinedine Zidane was one of the star footballers who consulted an Italian doctor linked to the supply of performance enhancing drugs to athletes claims an inquiry witness.

The investigation into Dr Michele Ferrari started after he was accused of supplying top cyclists with the substances they have used to cheat dope tests and help stamina during such events as the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

Today's 'Corriere dello Sport' says a witness in the investigation into Ferrari says he saw Zidane waiting in the doctor's consultancy room.

Real Madrid and Zidane have not commented on the report which runs across the newspaper's front page and they have yet to deny the claims made during the inquiry in Bologna.

The sighting of Zidane - who was sold to Real Madrid in a world record £48 million deal done by Juventus earlier this month - was placed at a time after Ferrari was linked to supplying banned substances to cyclists and in particular Tour de France champion and current leader Lance Armstrong.

Armstrong has also been sighted according to witnesses at Ferrari's clinic and a former US team mate of the American cyclist has claimed that Ferrari was involved in doping the US Postal cycling team at the 1998 Tour de France.