On the investigation front — we would characterize them as “inquiries” — FDA special agent Jeff Novitzky is reportedly asking questions of Lance associates that include offers of leniency in return for cooperation. Novitzky has been involved in baseball’s action against steroids and the case that resulted in Olympic champion Marion Jones’ downfall.
It’s unclear if Novitzky’s pursuit is related, but the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has stated it is looking into the Armstrong case.
We still await an official investigation, which would include depositions, subpoenas and other legal procedures implying criminality.
Other developments:
New York Times parses out the denials of Armstrong associates, which seem less emphatic than in the past. This is about as close as a journalist that knows something which cannot yet be printed can come to code for “watch this space.”
Bicycling contends “The answer is coming” as to whether Lance doped. Not quite so hedged as the NYT. But there’s still lots of ground to be covered before this gets anywhere beyond murky accusations, carefully worded denials and cheap talk.
To the surprise of no one, the cycling regulatory body UCI is digging in its institutional heels. UCI director Pat McQuaid says $100,000 from Lance Armstrong represents no conflict of interest. The money figures into Floyd Landis’ charge that Armstrong in effect bribed the UCI to keep a positive doping test secret.
Full UCI press releases here.
A brief partial historical recap of previous doping allegations against Lance: “Landis, however, is just the latest in a series of former Armstrong friends to turn foe. And reports suggest others may substantiate Landis’s claims, if he, or Novitsky, manages to convince them to testify.”
All of which may be contributing to Lance still not knowing what his pre-Tour racing schedule is.
Is today’s Giro time trial further proof that a post-doping era is finally taking hold?
Maybe not.