Sports In the Courts Blog : New York Attorneys & Lawyers Specializing in Sports Law & Legal Analysis

If you missed the article by Kathleen O'Brien on nj.com, you should check it out.

Ms. O'Brien raises a series of very fair questions about Armstrong and his cancer history. It should be noted that Armstrong denies blood doping by using illegal performance enhancing drugs (PED's). But the claims of Armstrong using PED's is growing louder with his former teammates purportedly telling a federal grand jury of Armstrong's PED use.

Now I am no doctor, but there is enough literature concerning the use of PED's and their connection to being a rocket fuel for cancer. As Ms. O'Brien notes "what's the point of cancer screening, good nutrition. even raising money for research [as Armstrong has done] if cancer survivors feel free to tamper with their body's basic metabolism."

If Armstrong took PED's, then I will have a growing empty feeling that Lance's cancer may have been created or fueled by his own choices.

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In a surprise revelation, reports have confirmed that a federal grand jury, sitting in Los Angeles, is investigating illegal doping by prominent US cyclists. These riders may include Tyler Hamilton and former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. However, the grand jury has also subpoenaed documents focused on allegations of doping by Lance Armstrong. 

At this early stage, it is unclear whether this federal investigation was prompted by the allegations of disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis, who has now publically accused Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs. There are indications that Landis, himself, also may be a target of this investigation.

Today, Armstrong’s attorneys protested, in the press, that federal investigators were offering “sweetheart deals” to other riders who would offer information against Armstrong or tie him to cheating. While Armstrong’s lawyer may complain, this is the way the game is played. The federal investigators will use the “little fish” to get to the “big fish.”

Armstrong’s lawyers have said that this investigation is nothing by a “witch hunt.” It looks like the feds are trying to put Lance Armstrong on the hook.

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Recently, in a television interview, disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis accused Lance Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs and performing improper blood transfusions (which will raise a person's red blood cells giving an advantage) during races. For his part, Armstrong has denied these accusations and any claims that he ever cheated during his many Tour de France wins.

Landis claims that Armstrong even provided him (Landis) with testosterone patches. Landis considers Armstrong to be a "fraud."

Landis has admitted cheating, by doping, in his own Tour de France victory (now stripped). Before changing his story, Landis wrote a book about his Tour de France "win" that was virtually full of lies. When Landis was under investigation for illegal doping, he appeared multiple television shows to maintain his innocence- and lie.

So here is the dilemma: when can you believe the accusations of a known liar and cheater? Even Landis asked, in his TV interview, of when he would get some credit for making the right choice. The answer is must be found in the quality of Landis' evidence.

If all Landis can come forward with only mere allegations, then his history of lying is too overwhelming to be ignored. To gain credibility, Landis must give specific times, dates, drugs, physical evidence and other witnesses. If Landis can provide or identify other people that can verifiy his claims, that would surely help.

If Landis cannot show more evidence against Armstrong, then Landis and Armstong's legacies are secure.

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After Floyd Landis won the Tour de France, in 2006, he tested positive for using performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) to win the race. Once he was caught by race officials, he lied about his guilt.

Landis then appealed his positive PED test to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and there he lied. Not to be outdone, after losing in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Landis wrote a book to proclaim his innocence from the use of PED’s and appeared on talk shows. Now we know, the only thing his book contained was lies. Lies, lies, lies.

Days ago, Landis sent some emails out admitting his guilt and declaring that he “did not want to be part of the problem” anymore. Well, Floyd, you still are.

In his emails, Landis accused Lance Armstrong and the US Cycling team of doping and covering up a positive test concerning Armstrong. More importantly, Landis now claims that not only did Armstrong use PED’s, Armstrong showed other riders how to dope their blood to avoid positive tests.

If Landis truly wants to remove himself from being “part of the problem” there is only one thing he can do. Landis must supply Cycling officials (and maybe the DEA) with razor sharp specific evidence. Since Landis has no credibility on his own, he must provide investigators with specific names, dates, times, place and methods of blood doping. Anything less with only show the Landis the same as he ever was – a liar.
 

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