Former world champion Johan Museeuw will appear in court today accused of possessing EPO and other banned substances. The charges arise out of the investigation into Belgian veterinarian Jose Landuyt who has admitted selling performance-enhancing drugs.

Cyclocross star Mario De Clercq will also face the court, as well as a veterinarian. Court spokesman Tom Janssen told Reuters , "They are being called to appear in front of a grand jury which will rule on whether there is enough evidence to refer them to a criminal court."

Museeuw denies any wrongdoing, although he is currently under a two-year ban laid down by the Belgian cycling federation in October 2004. He retired after the 2004 Paris-Roubaix, so that ban is largely symbolic. It prevents him working as a directeur sportif for his Quick.Step team, but not from fulfilling his current role of public relations for the team.

Museeuw's home was raided in August 2003 and police allege they found Aranesp, EPO and Dexomethasone, while De Clercq is accused of possessing EPO and seven other banned substances . Prosecutors say they also have extensive text message intercepts of Museeuw and Landuyt using code words to discuss the supply of banned substances.

Emile Vrijman, the Dutch lawyer appointed by the UCI to investigate l'Equipe's allegations that Lance Armstrong used banned performance-enhancer EPO in the 1999 Tour de France, says his investigation will be completely impartial.