U.S. Casts Wider Net in Probe of Cycling
By REED ALBERGOTTI And VANESSA O'CONNELL
WSJ
A federal probe into doping in professional cycling is proceeding quickly, and investigators are currently in discussions with several riders and their attorneys to secure their cooperation after the Tour de France ends later this month.
The U.S. criminal investigation, which is being led by the Food and Drug Administration, isn't aimed at prosecuting rank-and-file riders who used performance-enhancing drugs during their careers, according to people familiar with the investigation. Rather, it is designed to potentially bring charges against any team leaders and team directors who may have facilitated or encouraged doping by their riders.
FDA special agent Jeff Novitzky, the lead investigator, didn't return calls seeking comment.
It's unclear how many riders have spoken to investigators or agreed to be interviewed at a future date. Two people familiar with the matter say Mr. Novitzky already has talked to several riders.
Cyclist George Hincapie of the BMC professional cycling team, now competing in the Tour de France, has been called by Mr. Novitzky but hasn't talked directly to him. One person familiar with the matter said that Mr. Hincapie's lawyer has been talking to investigators and that Mr. Hincapie is likely to agree to talk to Mr. Novitzky when he returns to the U.S. Mr. Hincapie is a former teammate of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on the U.S. Postal Service cycling team.
(More here.)
WSJ
A federal probe into doping in professional cycling is proceeding quickly, and investigators are currently in discussions with several riders and their attorneys to secure their cooperation after the Tour de France ends later this month.
The U.S. criminal investigation, which is being led by the Food and Drug Administration, isn't aimed at prosecuting rank-and-file riders who used performance-enhancing drugs during their careers, according to people familiar with the investigation. Rather, it is designed to potentially bring charges against any team leaders and team directors who may have facilitated or encouraged doping by their riders.
FDA special agent Jeff Novitzky, the lead investigator, didn't return calls seeking comment.
It's unclear how many riders have spoken to investigators or agreed to be interviewed at a future date. Two people familiar with the matter say Mr. Novitzky already has talked to several riders.
Cyclist George Hincapie of the BMC professional cycling team, now competing in the Tour de France, has been called by Mr. Novitzky but hasn't talked directly to him. One person familiar with the matter said that Mr. Hincapie's lawyer has been talking to investigators and that Mr. Hincapie is likely to agree to talk to Mr. Novitzky when he returns to the U.S. Mr. Hincapie is a former teammate of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on the U.S. Postal Service cycling team.
(More here.)
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