Late Wednesday Roundup

An attentive Floyd Landis at his USADA hearings

News
The LA Times Michael Hiltzik writes about the day's arduous testimony of Cynthia Mongongu as Landis defense attorneys attempt to force her to defend the LNDD's methodology, chain of custody of Landis' samples, and possible leaks from the lab to the French newspaper L'Equipe:

Mongongu denied passing the results to L'Equipe or knowing who did. She also said, however, that she was never questioned on the matter by the lab's director, Jacques De Ceaurriz.

The San Francisco Chronicle posts an Eddie Pells AP story on just how much precious time was spent with Cynthia Mongongu today at the Landis hearings with much of the testimony dry and arcane. But tomorrow should be of more interest with a scheduled appearance by former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond.

Reuters' Mark Lamport-Stokes summarizes the day of testimony by Cynthia Mongongu in which she denied leaking information to L'Equipe, had asked a Landis observer at the lab for "B" sample testing to stand behind a taped line, and had not remembered how many times she needed help with an IRMS machine.

FoxSports Australia blurbs an AFP story about the planned Thursday appearance of Greg LeMond testifying for USADA at the Landis hearings.

The Daily Telegraph Australia concentrates on Cynthia Mongongu's testimony today at the Landis vs USADA hearings. While she was very clear as to her denials of having leaked, or knowing who leaked confidential test result information to L'Equipe, she was vague in her responses as to how many times she needed assistance with the IRMS machine.

Yahoo News posts an AP selection that states that the mess cycling is now in is not due solely to the Floyd Landis situation. The doping problem is systemic and other than attempts such as that made by Jonanthan Vaughter's Slipstream cycling team, it is troubled to say the least.

The Colorado Springs Gazette's Kate Crandall summarizes this mornings testimony as acrimonious between the Landis defense team and LNDD lab tech. Cynthia Mongongu:

In a tense exchange today, Maurice Suh, Landis' lead attorney, asked Mongongu how many liners she had changed in each of the past seven months.

Seven times, Mongongu's response was, "I don't know." But when Suh asked Mongongu about the April 17 date, she was confident.

"I remember changing the liner because we were starting those specific analyses, so I said to myself, 'I am going to change this liner and I'm going to put a new one in,'" she said.
"That's why I'm certain."
Earlier, Howard Jacobs, another Landis attorney, asked specific questions about the handling of Landis' "A" sample including what actions she performed at what times.
Again, Mongongu stated she could remember specifics about the handling of the sample.
"I have an image in my head," she said.
But when asked for the date of the next sample she handled, Mongongu answered, "I don't know

.

ESPN.com posts the report from this morning that the French Open Tennis Tournament will have it's drug testing of athlete done at a WADA lab in Montreal Quebec, Canada. In the past testing has always been done at the LNDD located outside of Paris. Cost is said to be the chief reason for this change.

ESPN.com posts an AP piece citing testimony from earlier today in which LNDD employee Cynthia Mongongu stated that she had to place tape on the floor to keep the observers chosen by Floyd Landis' defense team from getting too close as she was processing "B" samples from last summer's Tour de France:

Last month, Cynthia Mongongu of the Chatenay-Malabry lab in France signed a statement in which she described being "accosted" by an expert observing the testing of Landis' backup "B" samples.

Mongongu testified Wednesday at Landis' arbitration hearing about that statement, saying she used Scotch tape to create a line on the lab floor, past which Landis observers Paul Scott and Simon Davis could not cross.

She also stated that she was not aware of the source of drug testing result leaks from the LNDD to French newspaper L'Equipe.


France24 posts an AFP news brief states that USADA witness and LNDD employee Cynthia Mongongu testified that exogenous testosterone was found in other Floyd Landis "B" samples that were tested last month.Her testimony continued this morning.

Blogs
Stabbed and Stoned wants to know what the hell Greg LeMond is doing testifying at the Landis hearings.

Cycledog predicts that the arbitration panel at Pepperdine will rule against Floyd Landis, even if the lab admits mixing Kool-aid into one of his samples.

The RoadBike.com is sure that others should follow the lead of The French Open Tennis Tournament and stop using the LNDD. He also mentions that USADA refuses the give Team Landis what they need to defend themselves.

Rant has an update that includes the information that the French Open Tennis Tourney is going elsewhere with their drug testing. The LNDD is apparently too "expensive", so they are sending their samples to Montreal. More to come from Rant as events warrant. In his last update of the day Rant notes that Team Landis may have taken a hit with some disagreements over receiving requested documents or not, but then it got some of that hit back when arbitrator Chris Campbell starting asking some questions that seemed to irk Mr McLaren.

Frankly Arriola is a hard nosed drunk with quite the mail bag, and thinks that Floyd Landis is a great guy for not ratting out Lance Armstrong. Floyd demonstrates the concept of "omerta".

Outside of the Bubble is watching the Landis hearings from Pepperdine, and somehow can't see Floyd winning, Then again, who knows? It all comes down to who presents the best case.

Tow.com notes the beginning of the Landis vs USADA hearings and kindly points to TBV for complete coverage throughout.