Kennf1 said:
Chuck, what proof would satisfy you?
There isn't going to be a videotape of him getting a transfusion. And as has been discussed over and over, there is no test that turns up a "positive" when you are transfusing your own blood (notwithstanding the biopassport parameters, which have only been used for sanctions within the last two years). Until this year, there has been no test for HGH. There was no test for epo until 2001, and as Landis and Thomas Frei have indicated, the epo test is beaten with micro-dosing and hydration.
What we have is at least one purported eyewitness (Landis), with more probably to come. We have blood values from last years Tour that raised suspicions of manipulation. We have the fact he was working with a notorious doping doctor (Ferrari) during his heyday. We have three former teammates who have confessed to their own usage (Andreu, Swart, Landis). We have the fact that virtually everyone to stand on the podium with Lance from '99 to '05 was busted or driven out of the sport. We have positives from the '99 re-tests.
What would be the tipping point for you?
Fortunately we don't have to prove the points if the investigation is thorough:
Scope could be far-reaching with Interpol involved
The New York Times has reported that Federal authorities are issuing grand jury subpoenas to witnesses in the case involving 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.
The paper reports that several individuals briefed on the case revealed the information, but did so on the condition of anonymity so they would not be known to have discussed the federal investigation.
The grand jury subpoenas are seen as the next big step in moving forward with the investigation, and demonstrate just how seriously Landis's allegations are being taken.
Landis originally communicated with the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA), USA Cycling and the UCI, and provided details of what he described as systematic doping practices in the US Postal Service Team where he was a teammate of Armstrong. He admitted doping for much of his career after years of denial, and also pointed the finger at former teammates and management, and extended the allegations to his former Phonak team.
Most of the public statements released by the accused categorically deny Landis's statements, and believe that their accuser has no credibility. However, the Garmin-Transitions team, where former US Postal riders David Zabriskie and Matthew White are employed, have only said that they encourage that the truth be told, whatever the truth may be.
The claims were immediately dismissed by the UCI, but the USADA and WADA took the allegations more seriously, and it has since snowballed into 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 track and field sprinter Marion Jones.
Late last month the World Anti-Doping Agency's director general David Howman said that he believed the Landis allegations have weight and will eventually yield results.
“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.”
Howman said last week that the accusations have now led to an inquiry which 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.
Read more:
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...tion-seen-as-next-big-step.aspx#ixzz0vg7J07hV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram