Official Lance Armstrong Thread **READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING**

[Dr. Maserati]

translated from Spanish

"Lance Armstrong will not sue his former teammate Floyd Landis for its accusations of doping to avoid wasting time and money"

http://opinion.eluniversal.com/2011...ndar-a-landis-por-acusaciones-de-doping.shtml

__
No MiracleBoy, nothing to do with wasting time and money. The evidence supports (no credibility)Floyd.
.

The funny part is this....

Media in the United States today quoted Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani: "We have no intention of wasting more time and money by Landis. Is a person so discredited that it would be impossible to discredit it even further."

It should read like this...

"We have no intention of wasting more time and money by Landis" said Armstrongs $30,000 a month PR mouthpiece known as 'the Master of Disaster'. He continued 'there is no point wasting our time on this which is why we use 'cut and paste' for all our releases."

 

[thehog]

*** edited by mod ***

Thanks Hog. Good update.

 

[Stingray34]

The latest issue of the quaterly Australian RIDE cycling revue magazine has been out for the last few weeks and has an article on Armstrong's legacy by the French cycling journalist and Armstrong critic, Jean Francios Quenet.

In what could be supposition, Quenet writes

In May, Novitzky is likely to pronounce the indictment of Armstrong.

Quenet also suggests some doubt about LiveStrong when he says Armstrong is the "leader of what is said to be a non-profit organisation."

Reading this, I didn't get the feeling Quenet has insider knowledge on the investigation's timeframe, so I'm wondering where he got the date from.

Maybe he has heard something? Wishful thinking? And is the reference to the organisation's charity credentials a dig or a clue as to the investigation's focus?

 

[Topangarider]

May could be an interesting month-

Floyd at TOC?
60 Minutes on LA?
Indictments?

What's the chance that indictments will precede 60 Minutes and thus allow for a deeper investigative piece?

 

[theswordsman]

Investigators ask for help with Lance Armstrong case

In France, where Armstrong became famous by winning the Tour de France seven straight times, officials received a request from U.S. authorities last month for help gathering evidence about the cyclist and other members of his former U.S. Postal team.

The American evidence request specifically targets U.S. Postal and mentions Armstrong by name, said officials who have seen it.

"This case isn't like Bonds and Clemens," said one person familiar with the investigation, bringing up pitcher Roger Clemens' upcoming trial on perjury charges related to alleged use of PEDs. "Those were about lying. This is about corruption to the core."

French authorities, again acting at the request of the U.S. investigators, also are expected to interview and take witness statements from people in France.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-10-lance-armstrong-federal-investigation_N.htm

 

[Stingray34]

This quote from the article stands out to me:

Asked if the Americans might be hesitant to go after Armstrong following the outcome of the Bonds case, one European law enforcement official responded, "Was (Bonds) also accused of fraud involving federal funds? ... I know Novitzky isn't the only one investigating."

And this one from the comments section:

Performance enhancing drugs are cheating, but I don't see why they are illegal. If you cheat, you get ejected from the sport, and probably forfeit all the achievements you got credited for. That's fair. But I don't get why criminal charges would be brought for taking performance enhancing drugs. It's not like the steroid trade is funding terrorist and organized crime activities the way the heroin and cocaine trades are.

How is this mental giant so sure?

 

[Stingray34]

This one also: what do we know about the DOJ?

In America, investigators from the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the FDA are working on the case and reporting to officials from the Department of Justice, the AP was told. If criminal charges are ever brought against Armstrong, Levenson said it will have to get approval from DOJ brass.

"A Lance Armstrong (case) will go all the way up the chain," she said. "(Attorney General Eric) Holder or one of his chief deputies will sign off on the indictment or be briefed on it. They will have input even before this case gets indicted."

I'm a little unclear here: does the DOJ have to sign off before Armstrong is indicted? If DOJ isn't forthcoming is Armstrong off the hook? Could other criminal charges be separate from the indictment? Is Armstrong facing indictments from several different agencies, involving separate cases? What degree of political influence could be exerted within the DOJ?

I ask these questions as a previous quote from the USA Today article states that "Novitzky isn't the only one investigating."

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Haven't read through the last few days' of posts, but dropping this here as a Canadian buddy sent the link to me. It's AP, so may have been posted before.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/more/2011/05/10/armstrong_case/

Would've gone for the LA sticky, but it seems to have vanished. Conspiracy?

 

[D-Queued]

In France, where Armstrong became famous by winning the Tour de France seven straight times, officials received a request from U.S. authorities last month for help gathering evidence about the cyclist and other members of his former U.S. Postal team.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2011-05-10-lance-armstrong-federal-investigation_N.htm

The French authorities should have plenty of evidence given the multiple investigations they have mounted. They may not have laid charges, but the evidence room is still full of syringes, Actovegin, and testimony about doping control warnings.

It is also intriguing that:

People familiar with the investigation said the French request has been in the works since late last year, shortly after U.S. investigator Jeff Novitzky, prosecutor Doug Miller and other American authorities traveled to Interpol headquarters in south-central France to meet with European investigators, prosecutors and anti-doping officials from France, Belgium and Italy.

In other words, sounds like Novitzky et al got a personal preview of the extensive evidence available and this is now merely the formal request to receive it for the US case.

Expect an insulting, harrassing tweet from Lance any moment as confirmation that they hit the jackpot. Looks like Novitzky's hotel bills were more than justified.

Dave.

 

[thehog]

Three letters.....


UCI. They won't last this one.

& some weird drugs deals. Bloody hell don't sell the good stuff to cyclists sell it to others sportspersons.

& Tyler H. Thank-you. He's no Floyd but he he about to admit once he gets the clearance to do so. Then he'll go away again. To get much much better.

 

[thehog]

The hog hits Cali next week. Brave?

 

[sniper]

This case is like a big pimple, growing and growing, collecting and mounting pus, waiting for somebody to squeeze it out. Somebody's gonna have a hell of a task cleaning the mirror afterwards.

 

[thehog]

This case is like a big pimple, growing and growing, collecting and mounting pus, waiting for somebody to squeeze it out. Somebody's gonna have a hell of a task cleaning the mirror afterwards.

Not growing like a cancer?

 

[Race Radio]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycl...ong-federal-investigation_N.htm#uslPageReturn

Instantly there are dozens on the same topic....all irrational and supporting Armstrong

Notice the company that manages the comments is http://www.pluck.com/

They were funded by Austin Ventures, whose head sits on the Board of Livestrong. Pluck is now owned by Demand Media.....who owns Livestrong.com

 

[Stingray34]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycl...ong-federal-investigation_N.htm#uslPageReturn

Instantly there are dozens on the same topic....all irrational and supporting Armstrong

Notice the company that manages the comments is http://www.pluck.com/

They were funded by Austin Ventures, whose head sits on the Board of Livestrong. Pluck is now owned by Demand Media.....who owns Livestrong.com

Quite a few of them use the case as motivation to attack the government. One refers to Armstrong as a Texas Republican.

 

[I Watch Cycling In July]

'...'Notice the company that manages the comments is http://www.pluck.com/

They were funded by Austin Ventures, whose head sits on the Board of Livestrong. Pluck is now owned by Demand Media.....who owns Livestrong.com

How much longer do we have to put up with that cabal of amoral predators taking the **** so blatantly?

It's hard to tell from the outside if the info requests from France are because the US investigation has got hold if something big internationally, or because they are struggling to get enough evidence for an indictment.

 

[flicker]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycl...ong-federal-investigation_N.htm#uslPageReturn

Instantly there are dozens on the same topic....all irrational and supporting Armstrong

Notice the company that manages the comments is http://www.pluck.com/

They were funded by Austin Ventures, whose head sits on the Board of Livestrong. Pluck is now owned by Demand Media.....who owns Livestrong.com

What BS, unidentified person implicating Lance. USA article. Is it a forumite?

 

[Stingray34]

How much longer do we have to put up with that cabal of amoral predators taking the **** so blatantly?

It's hard to tell from the outside if the info requests from France are because the US investigation has got hold if something big internationally, or because they are struggling to get enough evidence for an indictment.

That's the big question. Things might be either relatively good for Armstrong or very, very bad. I wonder if he knows?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Rumor has it that Thursday the

drops on Big Tex.

 

[Polish]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycl...ong-federal-investigation_N.htm#uslPageReturn

Instantly there are dozens on the same topic....all irrational and supporting Armstrong

Notice the company that manages the comments is http://www.pluck.com/

They were funded by Austin Ventures, whose head sits on the Board of Livestrong. Pluck is now owned by Demand Media.....who owns Livestrong.com

You almost have to feel sorry for the Feds.

By the time this case comes to trial years down the road,
they will be exhausted and gasping for breath.

"But Novitsky, Chief Investigator in Balco, has lazerlike focus"
Sure, sure, whatever.
But this will be a Grand Trial - and we have not even started yet.
Time for the Proloque lol.

 

[sniper]

You almost have to feel sorry for the Feds.

By the time this case comes to trial years down the road,
they will be exhausted and gasping for breath.

"But Novitsky, Chief Investigator in Balco, has lazerlike focus"
Sure, sure, whatever.
But this will be a Grand Trial - and we have not even started yet.
Time for the Proloque lol.

And no need to feel sorry for the uniballer. In the meantime he will be able to walk the streets with pride. Nobody will know a thing about nothing. He does not have to worry about doing jailtime, nor about entering the history books as the biggest sport fraud of the modern era, let alone about becoming a major target of ridicule and mockery in the more serious media outlets. Nor should he be worried about losing his last dime on paying the Master of Disaster's salary (Fabiani will reconsider and do it all probono). LA's got it all under control.

 

[MarkvW]

nah

You almost have to feel sorry for the Feds.

By the time this case comes to trial years down the road,
they will be exhausted and gasping for breath.

"But Novitsky, Chief Investigator in Balco, has lazerlike focus"
Sure, sure, whatever.
But this will be a Grand Trial - and we have not even started yet.
Time for the Proloque lol.

IF there's an indictment, the likelihood of a grand trial is less than the likelihood of a plea. The feds don't play around. They come loaded for bear. IF there's an indictment, it's likely not just going to be about lying to the GJ--meaningful time will be at stake. That provides the feds a lot of negotiating room.

No indication of any upcoming indictment, however.

 

[tockit]

Rumor has it that Thursday the

drops on Big Tex.

What's the rumor? What happens Thursday?

 

[sniper]

What's the rumor? What happens Thursday?

the rumor is that on Thursday huge mushrooms will land on planet earth. hence the picture of a huge mushroom.

 

[python]

not just texas 99 samples !

here's the key new physical evidence potential that grabbed my attention:

The U.S. investigators have requested urine samples that were taken from U.S. Postal riders for anti-doping controls in France and were subsequently frozen and stored by France's anti-doping agency.

Among the samples requested are those from the first Tour de France that Armstrong won in 1999 and from other years when he dominated France's storied race. The French agency also has stored Armstrong's urine samples from the 2009 Tour when he placed third on his comeback, riding for the Astana

so, we have the first clear evidence that novi went around the uci to get more than just the 99 samples fully aware that the french had to drop the 2007 cases because of lack of the uci cooperation.

as commented earlier, the texas teammates interviewed by novi, must have known that he's expecting their analysis from france