WADA director general David Howman has revealed that the investigation sparked off by Floyd Landis’ allegations in May has spread beyond the US borders, and has now extended into Europe.
Landis originally communicated with the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA), USA Cycling and the UCI, providing details of what he said were systematic doping practices in the US Postal Service Team. He admitted doping for much of his career and also implicated many others, including USPS general manager Johan Bruyneel and multiple Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Those claims were dismissed by the UCI but treated more seriously by USADA and WADA. They also led to a federal investigation led by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) special agent Jeff Novitzky. He previously worked on the BALCO case, which led to the imprisonment of Marion Jones.
According to Howman, Landis’s accusations have led to an enquiry which now involves Interpol, and has led to co-operation with European anti-doping organisations.
“This investigation has been going on for many weeks and I think it is a significant inquiry,” he told AFP. “And it's one that might go on for many more weeks because it essentially started with a US inquiry and is spreading,” he explained.
“We've been persuading people to cooperate and think that would be helpful.”
The news will be worrying for some of those named as it suggests that the investigation is gathering pace. Although many of Landis’s allegations involved North American riders, Europeans such as Bruyneel, José Luis Rubiera, John Lelangue and Andy Rihs were also implicated. The latter two worked with him on the Phonak team, in whose colours Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but was then disqualified due to doping.
Armstrong, Bruyneel and others have dismissed the allegations. In a piece with ESPN, Bruyneel implied that Landis had a drink problem while he was with the team, saying that he consumed ‘three quarters of a bottle of wine’ each night during the Tour. For a team as tightly run as US Postal, it’s a claim that is surprising to hear.
Howman implied that the rider’s information would not be dismissed, even if Landis has now admitted to lying in the past about his own doping.
"We have to say we were disappointed at having to spend so much money pursuing Mr Landis, but you can't say that's something which should stop you from listening to him," he stated. "That would show a closed mind."
Others have reportedly come forward in light of Landis’s claims, and are said to be co-operating with the investigators. That number is thought to include two riders who are currently competing in the Tour de France.
All in all, it appears that this inquiry is something that is going to continue for at least several months, gathering more and more details.