The grand jury looking at the case of Lance Armstrong already subpoenaed several cycling personalities to testify in the alleged systematic doping of the 7 time Tour de France Champion. Some of the witnesses that were summoned by the jury include Armstrong’s former sponsors like Stephanie McIlvain, a representative of the Oakley eyewear company; SCA Promotions; and Trek Bicycling Corporation. The physiologist of Armstrong, Allen Lim and a former team mate in the Tour de France, Ukranian cyclist Yaroslav Popovych also testified. Several documents are already in the hands of investigators hoping that these could help them bolster the case against Armstrong. FDA lead investigator Jeff Novitsky and his team even went to France to ask for the alleged positive sample of Armstrong.

Landis Helping in the Probe

After his admission of using performance enhancing drugs in April, Floyd Landis accused Lance Armstrong of being involved in a systematic doping which include blood transfusions and taking EPO during Tour de France competitions. Landis admitted that he already forwarded to the concerned government agencies and sports organization his evidences that will prove his accusations. However, people in the cycling world never knew that the disgraced cyclist is helping the federal investigators in their search for more evidences that will implicate Armstrong.

In the NY Daily News report, their source from the agency told them that Landis worked for them in gathering more information against Armstrong. A picture released to the media showed Landis wearing surveillance gadgets which include a small portable camera. Their target: A fashion designer and former cycling team owner, Michael Ball.

HGH Found

Ball formerly owns the Rock Racing cycling team where several of Armstrong’s former teammates worked like Tyler Hamilton. The fashion designer and team owner is not close to Armstrong but the feds are looking for evidences that will prove the team was involved in doping. According to the source, Landis was able to capture pictures from the luxury apartment of Ball in Marina Del Rey, Calif. An image taken from the refrigerator of Ball showed alleged human growth hormones and other doping products. “The quantity and the quality of the video surveillance was pivotal in the decision to serve a search warrant and essentially raid Ball’s apartment to seize the drugs,” said the source.

The source also added that Landis is cooperating with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and federal law enforcement agencies by sharing his knowledge and experience with doping throughout his professional cycling career in Europe. “USADA and federal officials became more interested in his experience with Armstrong, and what happened during the Tour de France,” the source added.

Armstrong’s Lawyer Wants Case to be Dropped

Bryan Daly, the lead attorney of Armstrong wants his client to be removed from the case. “We have not received any target letter, and there has not been a lot of recent activity that we’ve heard about,” he told the Daily News. “We certainly hope that we could convince the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles to provide us with a declination of any possible criminal charges so that Lance Armstrong can close the book on the criminal rumors and allegations that have been swirling for about six months now,” Daly said.

Ever since, Lance Armstrong denied his involvement in the use of performance enhancing drugs. He maintained his position that he is innocent of any wrongdoing and lambasted Landis for implicating him in the alleged systematic doping of the US Postal Service cycling team.

Landis, who was caught using testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France, was stripped off his championship title. He fought the case in court but was still given the sanction by the cycling organization. Early this year Landis confessed to doping.

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