The court in Mont-de-Marsan will be hearing that Christophe Fauviau is suspected of drugging 21 tennis opponents of his 13-year-old daughter, Valentine, and six of his 15-year-old son, Maxime. 
A verdict on the case is expected on 10 March.

It is alleged he used Temesta, which is an anti-anxiety drug that can cause drowsiness, to improve his children's chances in the tennis matches.

All the tennis rivals concerned, nine of them aged under 15, complained of weakness in their knees, dizziness, nausea or fainting during the games and some of these youngsters were later taken to hospital.

Police investigations started after a player beaten by Maxime Fauviau was killed in a car crash while driving home after an amateur tennis tournament in July 2003.

Twenty-five-year-old teacher Alexandre Lagardere had suddenly felt great fatigue coupled with loss of balance while playing against the teenager and toxicology tests after the car crash found traces of Temesta in his body.

After being arrested in August 2003, Mr Fauviau had admitted spiking the drinks of Mr Lagardere and two others, police have reported.

Fauvia's defence lawyer, Pierre Blazy, said the prosecution would have to prove a direct link between the administration of the drug and Mr Lagardere's fatal car crash.

The lawyer told France's Sud-Ouest newspaper that his client had been in a state of diminished responsibility at the time and that Fauvia had sought psychotherapy while in custody.

Christophe Fauvia was said to be devoted to the tennis careers of his children, and in particular that of Valentine, who was already doing well at the sport.