LYON, France, Jan 23 (AFP) - Osteopath Benoit Nave, who treats six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, said as part of a judicial investigation he has never seen traces of injections or other doping practices on the US rider's body.
The investigations come after Armstrong's former British masseusse Emma O'Reilly was interviewed by police. She was reported to have confirmed the allegations of the Texan using the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) she made in "LA - Confidential - The Secrets of Lance Armstrong" last year.
Armstrong is sueing the authors for defamation, claiming two million euros in damages. He has always denied taking doping products.
He is also involved in a legal battle with his US insurers over a five million dollar bonus they have withheld since LA Confidential was published.
Nave said Armstrong had been a client of his since 2002 and has seen him several times.
The osteopath told AFP: "I have seen Armstrong undressed because of his sessions with me. I have never seen any trace of doping practices or injections on his body. People are out to get him and I have evidence to counter all that."
01/23/2005 12:40 GMT - AFP