• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Bahati?

A

Anonymous

Guest
"The NY Daily News reports that Ball was the target of investigators before Landis' email to USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson became public due to the history of some of his team's riders. Of particular interest to authorities have been Rashaan Bahati and Tyler Hamilton, two men who enjoyed success with the squad."

Maybe I missed this before but I've not see Bahati's name mentioned in connection to this investigation until now.

It does make me wonder... Team mates with Leogrande... the Joe Papp story...

I've always kind of liked Rashaan and I'm hoping there's nothing to this, but it's becoming tougher to trust pro cyclists these days.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ball-could-hold-link-to-armstrong-probe

Regarding doping in the American pro peloton, perhaps Chad Gerlach is more right than wrong?
 
Mar 10, 2009
504
0
0
In general, I'd say that it doesn't "take a junkie" to "know a junkie". There is always an outsider, someone other than another pro cyclist who knows of and is complicit in cycling's doping issues. In prosecuting something of this magnitude, testimony, as shocking as it may sound to the joe cycling fan, will be supported by a paper trail - in this case, how money changed hands in pursuit of drugs.
 
Scott SoCal said:
"The NY Daily News reports that Ball was the target of investigators before Landis' email to USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson became public due to the history of some of his team's riders. Of particular interest to authorities have been Rashaan Bahati and Tyler Hamilton, two men who enjoyed success with the squad."

Maybe I missed this before but I've not see Bahati's name mentioned in connection to this investigation until now.

I made a post maybe 5 or 6 weeks ago pondering the same thing. Obviously Joe can't or won't contribute based on his current situation, but there is a nice clean line to follow:

Ball ---> Leogrande ---> Hamilton ---> US Postal ---> Armstrong.

You have Kayle and Hamilton both riding for Rock. Joe sold EPO to Kayle (and took those goofy photos as well), and there's a pretty good chance Kayle wasn't Joe's only customer, or at least not the only guy at Rock looking for hot sauce. Keeping in mind Joe's business model, it made securing EPO a lot easier and I'm sure Leogrande spread the word through the team to those "interested".

If you can get dirt on Hamilton, especially recent dirt, you might have some leverage to get Tyler to talk on other goings-on.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
tifosa said:
In general, I'd say that it doesn't "take a junkie" to "know a junkie". There is always an outsider, someone other than another pro cyclist who knows of and is complicit in cycling's doping issues. In prosecuting something of this magnitude, testimony, as shocking as it may sound to the joe cycling fan, will be supported by a paper trail - in this case, how money changed hands in pursuit of drugs.

In general I'd agree with this. However, there were many others that raced at Rock and have not had their names published in connection to Federal Investigation. Slice it how you want, this is not a positive development if you are Rashaan Bahati.
 
May 26, 2010
28,143
5
0
Scott SoCal said:
In general I'd agree with this. However, there were many others that raced at Rock and have not had their names published in connection to Federal Investigation. Slice it how you want, this is not a positive development if you are Rashaan Bahati.

Bahati was connected to Rock and then Landis, maybe no more or less than that? if he makes a statement soon to clear the air, it'll depend on the wording of the statement....i'll wait and see what it says.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
MacRoadie said:
I made a post maybe 5 or 6 weeks ago pondering the same thing. Obviously Joe can't or won't contribute based on his current situation, but there is a nice clean line to follow:

Ball ---> Leogrande ---> Hamilton ---> US Postal ---> Armstrong.

You have Kayle and Hamilton both riding for Rock. Joe sold EPO to Kayle (and took those goofy photos as well), and there's a pretty good chance Kayle wasn't Joe's only customer, or at least not the only guy at Rock looking for hot sauce. Keeping in mind Joe's business model, it made securing EPO a lot easier and I'm sure Leogrande spread the word through hthe team to those "interested".

If you can get dirt on Hamilton, especially recent dirt, you might have some leverage to get Tyler to talk on other goings-on.

Yeah, can you imagine the irony of someone like Ball indirectly taking down someone like Armstrong?
 

DAOTEC

BANNED
Jun 16, 2009
3,171
0
0
This is what USADA has to offer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Lance Armstrong's attorneys say the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is offering cyclists a ''sweetheart deal'' if they testify or provide evidence that the seven-time Tour de France winner cheated by doping.

If those riders have been caught doping, the deal from USADA could result in a reduced ban from competition and other incentives, attorney Tim Herman told The Associated Press on Monday.

Federal investigators in Los Angeles are looking at cheating in professional cycling and have shown interest in Armstrong since former teammate and 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis alleged this spring that Armstrong and others took performance-enhancing drugs, which Armstrong strongly denies.

In 2007, Landis said USADA offered him a similar deal to finger Armstrong. At the time, Landis called the offer ''offensive'' and did not provide evidence against Armstrong.

USADA spokeswoman Erin Hannan said the agency could not comment in detail about an investigation.

''Our effort in any investigation is a search for the truth, nothing more and nothing less,'' Hannan said. ''On behalf of clean athletes, we will fairly and thoroughly evaluate all evidence of doping to reveal the truth. When the process results in credible evidence of doping, clean athletes can rest assured we will take appropriate action under the rules established by federal law.''

USADA has a history of reducing penalties for athletes who provide evidence of doping violations by other athletes, but asking for information about specific athletes is not allowed under the agency's rules.

Armstrong's attorneys say USADA's current offer is for riders to talk to federal investigator Jeff Novitzky, who could then give the information to USADA. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Presumably, the alleged deal would only be worthwhile for riders who are still competing or young enough to return to competition if a ban was lifted.

''USADA is promising riders a sweetheart deal if they can produce anything harmful on Armstrong,'' Herman said. ''A rider who has doped, they tell them, 'If you can finger Armstrong, we'll get out the eraser ... and everything is cool.'''

Herman said he could not disclose which rider or riders have been offered a deal.

Landis implicated at least 16 other people in various doping acts, including longtime Armstrong confidant George Hincapie, Armstrong's current Team Radioshack teammate Levi Leipheimer and another elite American rider, Dave Zabriskie.

Tyler Hamilton, who rode in support of Armstrong on the U.S. Postal Service team in 1999 and 2000 reportedly has been subpoenaed.

Hamilton won the 2004 Olympic gold medal in the time trial in Athens, but failed a test for blood doping afterward and eventually served a two-year suspension.

Hamilton returned to racing and won the 2008 U.S. road championship, but retired last spring after admitting that he took an antidepressant that contained the banned steroid DHEA. He was officially banned from cycling for eight years.

In 2007, Landis said USADA general counsel Travis Tygart approached his attorney shortly after learning of Landis' positive doping test during the Tour.

Herman questioned whether USADA could legally offer such an incentive for testimony.

In a 2007 letter to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which contracted with USADA, Herman claimed that, as a private entity, USADA's deal offer is similar to bribery.

Herman said Monday he would raise the some concern with federal investigators.

At USADA, Hannan said the agency considers all athletes ''innocent until and unless proven otherwise through the established legal process. Attempts to sensationalize or exploit either the process or the athletes are a disservice to fair play, due process, and to those who love clean sport.'' (New York Times)
 
wre-ru, wu-ru wu-ru wur-ru (whistling)

Scott SoCal said:
...there were many others that raced at Rock and have not had their names published in connection to Federal Investigation...

That just means that they haven't let slip to anyone but their attorneys that they've been contacted, or, in some cases, debriefed.

Wonder what happened to Bahati that he was in the hospital, and why would that detail be of interest to the Daily News... wre-ru, wu-ru wu-ru wur-ru, wre-ru, wu-ru wu-ru wur-ru... (whistling)
 
WADA Code allows for "sweetheart" deals

DAOTEC said:
This is what USADA has to offer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Lance Armstrong's attorneys say the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is offering cyclists a ''sweetheart deal'' if they testify or provide evidence that the seven-time Tour de France winner cheated by doping.

If those riders have been caught doping, the deal from USADA could result in a reduced ban from competition and other incentives, attorney Tim Herman told The Associated Press on Monday.

Federal investigators in Los Angeles are looking at cheating in professional cycling and have shown interest in Armstrong since former teammate and 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis alleged this spring that Armstrong and others took performance-enhancing drugs, which Armstrong strongly denies.

In 2007, Landis said USADA offered him a similar deal to finger Armstrong. At the time, Landis called the offer ''offensive'' and did not provide evidence against Armstrong.

USADA spokeswoman Erin Hannan said the agency could not comment in detail about an investigation.

''Our effort in any investigation is a search for the truth, nothing more and nothing less,'' Hannan said. ''On behalf of clean athletes, we will fairly and thoroughly evaluate all evidence of doping to reveal the truth. When the process results in credible evidence of doping, clean athletes can rest assured we will take appropriate action under the rules established by federal law.''

USADA has a history of reducing penalties for athletes who provide evidence of doping violations by other athletes, but asking for information about specific athletes is not allowed under the agency's rules.

Armstrong's attorneys say USADA's current offer is for riders to talk to federal investigator Jeff Novitzky, who could then give the information to USADA. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Presumably, the alleged deal would only be worthwhile for riders who are still competing or young enough to return to competition if a ban was lifted.

''USADA is promising riders a sweetheart deal if they can produce anything harmful on Armstrong,'' Herman said. ''A rider who has doped, they tell them, 'If you can finger Armstrong, we'll get out the eraser ... and everything is cool.'''

Herman said he could not disclose which rider or riders have been offered a deal.

Landis implicated at least 16 other people in various doping acts, including longtime Armstrong confidant George Hincapie, Armstrong's current Team Radioshack teammate Levi Leipheimer and another elite American rider, Dave Zabriskie.

Tyler Hamilton, who rode in support of Armstrong on the U.S. Postal Service team in 1999 and 2000 reportedly has been subpoenaed.

Hamilton won the 2004 Olympic gold medal in the time trial in Athens, but failed a test for blood doping afterward and eventually served a two-year suspension.

Hamilton returned to racing and won the 2008 U.S. road championship, but retired last spring after admitting that he took an antidepressant that contained the banned steroid DHEA. He was officially banned from cycling for eight years.

In 2007, Landis said USADA general counsel Travis Tygart approached his attorney shortly after learning of Landis' positive doping test during the Tour.

Herman questioned whether USADA could legally offer such an incentive for testimony.

In a 2007 letter to the U.S. Olympic Committee, which contracted with USADA, Herman claimed that, as a private entity, USADA's deal offer is similar to bribery.

Herman said Monday he would raise the some concern with federal investigators.

At USADA, Hannan said the agency considers all athletes ''innocent until and unless proven otherwise through the established legal process. Attempts to sensationalize or exploit either the process or the athletes are a disservice to fair play, due process, and to those who love clean sport.'' (New York Times)

See, this is an intentional mis-characterization of the process by Lance's attorney. There's nothing that prevents USADA from inviting athletes suspected of doping to reveal not just their own story, but the details of others' doping that they observed or were aware of.

Serious attempt to muddy the waters by Lance.

Just as Dan Staite was apparently targeted for testing by UKAD as a result of 3rd party information, former teammates of Lance Armstrong might choose to provide evidence against him to USADA, or to a government agency, in hopes of seeing their own potential liability reduced.

In fact, this is clearly articulated by WADA, and is described in the Code as follows:



10.5.3 Substantial Assistance in Discovering or Establishing Anti-Doping Rule Violations

An Anti-Doping Organization with results
management responsibility for an anti-doping
rule violation may, prior to a final appellate
decision under Article 13 or the expiration of
the time to appeal, suspend a part of the
period of Ineligibility imposed in an individual
case
where the Athlete or other Person has
provided Substantial Assistance to an Anti-
Doping Organization, criminal authority or
professional disciplinary body which results in
the Anti-Doping Organization discovering or
establishing an anti-doping rule violation by
another Person or which results in a criminal
or disciplinary body discovering or establishing
a criminal offense or the breach of professional rules by another Person.


After a final appellate decision under Article 13 or the
expiration of time to appeal, an Anti-Doping
Organization may only suspend a part of the
otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility
with the approval of WADA and the applicable
International Federation. The extent to which
the otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility
may be suspended shall be based on the
seriousness of the anti-doping rule violation
committed by the Athlete or other Person
and the significance of the Substantial
Assistance provided by the Athlete or other
Person to the effort to eliminate doping in
sport. No more than three-quarters of the
otherwise applicable period of Ineligibility
may be suspended. If the otherwise
applicable period of Ineligibility is a lifetime,
the non-suspended period under this section
must be no less than eight (8) years. If the
Anti-Doping Organization suspends any part
of the otherwise applicable period of
Ineligibility under this Article, the Anti-
Doping Organization shall promptly provide a
written justification for its decision to each
Anti-Doping Organization having a right to
appeal the decision. If the Anti-Doping
Organization subsequently reinstates any part of
Article 2.8 is involved and whether the
violation involved a substance or
method which is not readily detectible
in Testing. The maximum suspension
of the Ineligibility period shall only be
applied in very exceptional cases. An
additional factor to be considered in
connection with the seriousness of
the anti-doping rule violation is any
performance-enhancing benefit
which the Person providing
Substantial Assistance may be likely
to still enjoy. As a general matter, the
earlier in the results management
process the Substantial Assistance is
provided, the greater the percentage
of the otherwise applicable period of
Ineligibility may be suspended.
If the Athlete or other Person who
is asserted to have committed an
anti-doping rule violation claims
the suspended period of Ineligibility because the
Athlete or other Person has failed to provide the
Substantial Assistance which was anticipated,
the Athlete or other Person may appeal the
reinstatement pursuant to Article 13.2.
 
Are Lance's lawyers just doing set-up work for the future myth? The one that says that Lance (once he's been convicted, and paid the fine/done the time or whatever) was wrongly railroaded by jealous ex-competitors who sold him out in order to get away from punishment themselves.
Fanboys could live with that one for years.
 
Joe, you might want to pass that along to Messers. Herman and Novitzky.

For the former, it may serve as a warning that the more intelligent among us aren't quite so willing to be spoon-fed the Armstrong pablum; and for the latter, well he probably doesn't need to be told this by any of us, but why not.
 
Oct 6, 2009
5,270
2
0
Hugh Januss said:
Are Lance's lawyers just doing set-up work for the future myth? The one that says that Lance (once he's been convicted, and paid the fine/done the time or whatever) was wrongly railroaded by jealous ex-competitors who sold him out in order to get away from punishment themselves.
Fanboys could live with that one for years.

Sounds like a good guess. After all, it's a celebrity witch hunt, and those others are just jealous. :rolleyes: Isn't that the standard damage control PR strategy for celebs, to claim that others are "just jealous" and therefore out to get **insert name here** for being rich and famous?
 
MacRoadie said:
Joe, you might want to pass that along to Messers. Herman and Novitzky.

For the former, it may serve as a warning that the more intelligent among us aren't quite so willing to be spoon-fed the Armstrong pablum; and for the latter, well he probably doesn't need to be told this by any of us, but why not.

lol - hey why don't you guys actually pass it on to the reporter who wrote the piece giving Herman a platform to make that distorted claim? :cool:
 
Hugh Januss said:
Are Lance's lawyers just doing set-up work for the future myth? The one that says that Lance (once he's been convicted, and paid the fine/done the time or whatever) was wrongly railroaded by jealous ex-competitors who sold him out in order to get away from punishment themselves.
Fanboys could live with that one for years.

Now that Armstrong has retained criminal defense counsel, we can see what Tim Herman's role will be going forward...


Is he to Lance what Bob Kardashian was to O.J.?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
joe_papp said:
lol - hey why don't you guys actually pass it on to the reporter who wrote the piece giving Herman a platform to make that distorted claim? :cool:

The author was Jim Vertuno, but I cannot find an email address. Can anyone find one? He is an AP writer, but most of the articles just list that it is an AP articles, and then papers like The Washington Post list him, but provide no way to contact him.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
NashbarShorts said:
Curious, what were Gerlach's comments regarding doping in the US peloton?

At one time not too long ago his facebook postings were.... interesting.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=7733

This was posted by Colm.Murphy on May 28, 2010.

Just got the text of his posting:

"Gerlach joins Federal inquiry! I remember when Levi was young and he used to buy EPO from Gaggiolli. Yeah i loved to get high, but when the **** hit the fan, only a real ***, digs deeper! I can't wait to tesstify in Congress. I'll give up every champion from 95 thru 2002. It gets worse. Cool, California, we remember T, you'll B there too!"



It was speculated that "T" is Trent Klasna.
 
Jul 29, 2010
431
0
0
Ahh, Mr. Klasna. Does anybody know what happened to that guy? There was one year when he won EVERYTHING.

I remember reading an article where he sold his home and used the money to buy a huge RV...was going to travel the domestic racing circuit in his RV. My thought was, "this is not going to end well."
 
Jun 19, 2009
5,220
0
0
TopCarbon said:
this is sounding more like Operacion Puerto more and more

Except less professional people were involved and that means much more accessible information. Back to what many are thinking: these guys all don't know who is saying what. There is also a real liklihood that some innocent or semi-innocent riders are going to get sacrificed which would be bad; hence (I hate that pretentious word) the offer for reduced sporting sentences having some real incentive for the semi-guilty.
 
Hugh Januss said:
Are Lance's lawyers just doing set-up work for the future myth? The one that says that Lance (once he's been convicted, and paid the fine/done the time or whatever) was wrongly railroaded by jealous ex-competitors who sold him out in order to get away from punishment themselves.
Fanboys could live with that one for years.

Doing that? Yes. Just doing that? No. Mr. Armstrong's recent tweets about good causes etc. are also part of showing how much good he has done.

-dB
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
dbrower said:
Doing that? Yes. Just doing that? No. Mr. Armstrong's recent tweets about good causes etc. are also part of showing how much good he has done.

-dB

Which continues his long tradition of prostituting of cancer.
 
Oct 31, 2010
35
0
0
"Gerlach joins Federal inquiry! I remember when Levi was young and he used to buy EPO from Gaggiolli. Yeah i loved to get high, but when the **** hit the fan, only a real ***, digs deeper! I can't wait to tesstify in Congress. I'll give up every champion from 95 thru 2002. It gets worse. Cool, California, we remember T, you'll B there too!" [/I]

It was speculated that "T" is Trent Klasna.[/QUOTE]

NashbarShorts said:
Ahh, Mr. Klasna. Does anybody know what happened to that guy? There was one year when he won EVERYTHING.


Klasna lives in Cool, California now. He has a small organic farm and does welding jobs. The local Auburn Ca. newspaper did a story on him earlies this year cause the ToC was passing his place.

If you think he was bad you should have raced against his older brother.
 
Jul 6, 2010
2,340
0
0
Haha! Klasna! Saw one of the best head-butting contests ever in Philly 2001. Tough, hard guy. The attacks that were being thrown down were ***! He did really well (2nd I think), good trip even if our team didn't win...