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A Belgian court has delayed the doping trial of former world champion Johan Museeuw and 10 others for three weeks at the request of the ex-cyclist's lawyer.

Presiding judge Baudouin Devrient said the court, which had been due to deliver a verdict on Tuesday, would seek to complete the case on October 13, although a judgment may not come before November.

Museeuw, six fellow riders and four other people, including chief defendant veterinarian Jose Landuyt, are accused of importing, possessing or using endurance-boosting drugs EPO and Aranesp.

Prosecutors have demanded a two-year sentence, half of it suspended, for Landuyt and fines for Museeuw and the other "immoral" cyclists.

The case has faced repeated delays. The trial in the western Belgian city of Kortrijk finally began a year ago but was then put on hold for 11 months last October.

Museeuw admitted in January 2007 to taking performance-enhancing drugs towards the end of his career.

Considered the best one-day cyclist of recent times, Museeuw, 42, has already received a two-year ban from the Belgian federation over his alleged involvement.

The criminal case involved four years of investigation, with telephone tapping and a number of police raids.

Investigators said they counted over 200 calls and mobile text messages between Museeuw and Landuyt over a short period of time.

Reuters