British cyclist David Millar and nine other people, most of them members or former members of French team Cofidis, went on trial yesterday over a doping scandal.

Most are charged with acquiring and possessing banned performance-enhancing drugs, and could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to €75,000.

The trial, expected to last a week in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, follows one of the biggest judicial investigations into the use of banned drugs in the sport.

Millar's lawyer said in 2004 that the cyclist had told the police during questioning that he took the banned drug erythropoietin in 2001 and 2003.

Millar, who won a gold medal for Malta in the time-trial at the 2001 San Marino GSSE, has since returned to cycling after serving a two-year ban.