BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian prosecutors on Wednesday formally asked judges to put cycling great Eddy Merckx on trial on corruption charges.
Merckx, 70, is one of 13 people investigated about irregular purchases of equipment by Brussels-area municipalities. He's accused of using insider information to win a 15,000-euro ($16,700) contract to sell 46 cycles from his then-company Cycles Eddy Merckx to police in 2006-07.
He allegedly rewarded the policeman who provided the information with a good deal on a carbon-fiber bike, and gave another bike to the man's wife.
Brussels prosecutors have charged Merckx, a five-time winner of the Tour de France and a Belgian sporting hero, with corruption and using false documents.