Armstrong In Midst of Doping Investigation Again

The questions surrounding Lance Armstrong's claim to never have used performance enhancing drugs only seem to get deeper with time. In the latest chapter of the did-he-or-didn't-he saga, U.S. investigators have gone to France to talk with the French agency that has stored some of Armstrong's urine samples, the Associated Press reports.

The agency plans to share everything it knows with the Americans during a scheduled meeting sometime this week, a French official said.

The official said the American delegation is comprised of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Agent Jeff Novitzky, famous for being at the center of the BALCO Investigation that outted Barry Bonds and Marion Jones as PED users. Others believed to be part of the investigation are U.S. federal prosecutor Doug Miller and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart, the AP reports.

The investigation into doping in cycling heated up after Floyd Landis, famously stripped of his 2006 Tour de France win for doping, admitted this past spring to taking performance enhancing drugs. During his mea culpa, Landis fingered Armstrong and other teammates for what he described as "systemic" PED abuse.

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The former head of the French agency, Pierre Bordry, previously promised to hand over Armstrong's samples from the 1999 Tour de France to Novitzky if the agent made an official request.

The French official said he doesn't know whether U.S. investigators have formally requested the samples.

The French sports daily L'Equipe reported in 2005 that Armstrong's samples from 1999 contained traces of the banned performance-enhancer EPO.

An investigator mandated by cycling's international governing body, the UCI, later cleared Armstrong. The seven-time Tour de France winner has repeatedly denied allegations that he took performance-enhancing drugs.

[mackdaddyson]

Lots of France bashing in the comments. Seems like most of these people didnt bother reading the article because these are US authorities doing the investigating, not the French. These authorities, by the way, are the same people that investigated Barry Bonds and track star Marion Jones.

And it appears that Armstrong HAS tested positive in subsequent testing of his urine, just not at the initial tests during the race.

Come on guys, do you thing the US authorities would be wasting all this time and money if there wasn't a compelling case?

Read an article with comments from people in the know: cyclists. http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/507772/european-trip-suggests-armstrong-doping-probe-is-moving-ahead.html

They aparently are not under any delusions, because after all, everyone dopes in cycling and for someone to win it 7 times, and beating everyone else who is doping, what are the odds??

[crossuab]

Did we seriously pay to send somebody to France over possible doping of one guy? There has to be better ways of spending our money. How much have the feds spent on Barry Bonds? It's been years and that guy is still walking around. Dudes just let it go.

[SeventeenAtHeart]

Please give this a rest! The man is a sports legend, who has passed every test in a distinguished career. Isn't it time for everyone to simply treat him for what he is instead of trying to ruin his reputation at every turn.

[endurorob_5]

Armstrong is the most tested cyclist in history. You would think that if there were evidence of him doping it would have come out by now.

[mollydtt]

Does anybody really think that anyone in France wouldn't knock themselves out to provide a tainted urine sample? They *live* for the sole purpose of trying to defame Armstrong.
I'll bet that in 2020, France will still be trying to prove something shocking about Armstrong.

[endurorob_5]

Isn't it also interesting that the french couldn't strip away Landis' yellow jersey fast enough after he was found to be doping but you never hear a word about taking Virenques polka dot jerseys after he has admitted to doping when he won them.

[rockcutr]

If ya gotta have a whipping boy, Lance is your man.
But, he is getting old and not likely to ever perform at peak levels with or without illegal substances.
I am sure I am not the only one wondering how many times the French get to flip the egg before they serve breakfast. There really need to be better rules for the rule keepers and makers. What a bunch of whiney little girls.