The Washington Post has reported that at least two individuals have corroborated some of Floyd Landis's claims of systematic doping and knowledge of doping practices leveled at seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and several other cyclists and key figures in the sport. According to the paper, the information came from anonymous sources with knowledge of the investigation.
Food and Drug Administration investigator Jeff Novitzky, who was also the lead investigator for the BALCO case that saw Olympic track sprinter Marion Jones serve time in prison, had originally been focused on Michael Ball's Rock Racing team, but evidence collected thus far has shifted the probe in the direction of Armstrong.
In the winter of 2008 and early 2009, Novitzky was tasked with cracking down on companies in the dietary supplement industry that lace their products with steroids. His work there led to two anti-doping convictions by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Evidence suggested that the Rock Racing could be operating an organized doping program so, according to the Washington Post's sources, the USADA released evidence they had acquired during their proceedings based on their prior relationship with Novitzky during the BALCO case.
The investigation into Ball's team was launched late last year, according the paper's sources, and at least one cycling figure that has connections to both Ball and Armstrong was interviewed, but apparently no questions about the Texan were asked.
Armstrong's former US Postal teammates George Hincapie (BMC Racing), Tyler Hamilton, David Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions) and Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Transitions) have all been contacted by Novitzky. Garmin-Transitions boss Jonathan vaughters is also a former teammate of Armstrong's.Federal officials have discussed whether they could avoid the five-year statute of limitation if they uncover any crimes the might fit into the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This would then group all crimes together with the clock starting after the last illegal act. While a RICO case would require a lot more evidence and witness testimony, it would also include a mandatory jail sentence.
Late last month the World Anti-Doping Agency's director general David Howman said that he believed Landis's allegations won't just go away.
“I think we are very optimistic that this inquiry will be a fruitful one,” admitted Howman to the New York Times. “But this is going to take some time because we’re not really talking about a simple antidoping case here. Remember the BALCO case, how long that took? Well, we could be still talking about this one in 2016.”
Last week Howman confirmed that the accusations have led to an inquiry involving Interpol, that also includes 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.”
With Interpol joining the investigation, it could mean that the department of the French police (OCLAESP) [Central Office for the fight against environmental damage and for public health] inquiry into the Astana team from last year's Tour de France could also be brought into the overall picture if it has any merit.
"A couple of guys have confirmed components of what [Landis] said, but what Novitzky is really interested in is not whether Lance Armstrong used EPO to win the Tour de France -- that's not his mandate -- but whether there was tax evasion, contract fraud, importing drugs, using money to buy pharmaceuticals," an individual with knowledge of the investigation told the Washington Post. "That's why the investigation has gone global."
Tim Herman, Armstrong's attorney, cast a shadow over Landis pointing out that he had previously lied under oath. "What is so reprehensible is this guy bilked his best friends out of $2 million to fund a bogus defense," Herman told the paper. "I can't believe anybody would want to take Floyd Landis to the prom."
Armstrong categorically denies Landis's allegations, and told reporters before stage ten of the Tour de France, "as long as we have a legitimate and credible and fair investigation I will be happy to cooperate, but I'm not going to participate in any kind of witch hunt."
If Armstrong is issued a subpoena, that's something that will no longer be his choice. The investigation is expected to gain steam following the conclusion of the Tour de France.