Cycling: Vinokourov accused of bribing rival in 2010 race

The UCI has opened an investigation into allegations that the Olympic road-race champion Alexandre Vinokourov bribed a rival in order to win the 2010 Liège-Bastogne-Liège race.

The UCI acted after receiving a file on the case from a prosecutor who is leading a wider investigation of corruption in cycling linked to Dr Michele Ferrari, a former adviser to Lance Armstrong. Vinokourov allegedly paid Russian rider Alexandr Kolobnev €150,000 (£120,000) after arranging a fix during their breakaway.

The news comes as the UCI is being sued by one of its sponsors for $2m (£1.25m) over the Armstrong scandal. Australian sports clothing company Skins says the UCI is responsible for a "total loss of confidence in professional cycling by the public".