Wednesday Roundup

News
ESPN reports on the testimony yesterday of Patrick Arnold former lead chemist of BALCO who not only created many of the "designer" steroids at issue in the Tammy Thomas trial where he testified, but who also gave great insight into the world of doping. IRS criminal investigations agent Jeff Novitsky and Don Catlin, former head of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab, are also expected to testify.

Yahoo! says that Novtsky is coming under some scrutiny of his own from the Hon. Susan Ilston, the likes of which we do not see happen in the friendly-to-prosecutors WADA/CAS system.

In more news from ESPN Patrice Clerc will not back down from his stance that Astana will be banned from the Tour de France this year, but is magnanimous in his offer to include them NEXT year IF they mind their Ps and Qs. Ironically, Clerc expressed concern that the ongoing spat with the UCI will impede the Tour's ability to monitor the cyclists' blood levels and detect doping. Huh?

The CyclingNews has plenty of UCI news this morning, mostly the reaction of WADA to the UCI's lawsuit against former WADA head Dick Pound. WADA finds the legal action highly objectionable suggesting that the UCI should have spent its money elsewhere, like at Floyd Landis' CAS hearing. In other UCI news the agency met with the CPA yesterday to discuss the threatened discipline of riders who took part in the UCI unsanctioned Paris-Nice.

The VeloNews says two riders taking part in the world cycling track championships have been determined to have high hematocrit levels. One was Dutch rider Pim Ligthart and the other was Brit Robert Hayles:

A team spokesman confirmed to AFP that British cyclist Robert Hayles' hematocrit level was at 50.3, but British Cycling Performance Director Dave Brailsford said in a statement he did not suspect Hayles of doping.

"We are totally supportive of the screening system. Considering the thousands of tests performed on our large squad by now, it is not unusual to get one or two such anomalies," Brailsford suggested.

The Age (Aus) riffs on the phrase "moving forward", coming from Maurice Suh's mouth, among others:

You see, thinking about it going backwards is not only impossible but totally bleeding useless even if you could.

Blogs
Velo Vortmax is angry with the continued stream of misinformation from the CyclingNews on the Landis case, at this point they should know better. Vv then goes on to point out the numerous credibility problems he perceives WADA/USADA has and encourages us all, while we wait for the Landis CAS decision, to "wail" on them to effect some kind of constructive change in the way they operate.

WADAwatch thinks the recent genetic study may call into question TD2004EAAS. No worry mate, it'll still be deemed correct, unless it is changed.

Rant notes the "time" factor in the Landis case, mostly that all of this has taken way too long, and he also points to the continuing inaccuracies contained in the CyclingNews wrap up of the Landis CAS hearings.

Potholes and Road Apples reports that Green Mountain Cyclery in Ephrata,PA, where Floyd Landis found a second home when he was a beginning cyclist, is expanding. The shop will become a destination for customers and will include: a coffee bar, classrooms, a dedicated women's area, a major expansion in inventory due to the increased size of the shop, and transportation for riders going to shop sponsored and other events. Congratulations Mike, best of luck!!

Piglito reviews some ancient cycling history of controversy as shaping and being shaped by cheating scandals.

AlpeD'Huez speaks of hollow victory:

Court battles have dragged on and soon we will find out just who has won the 2006 Tour de France.

But what sort of victory will it be for Floyd Landis?

Sport at all levels is about winners and losers. The winners stand on the podium and receive applause.

This happens within a short space of time of the event - not weeks or months afterwards

Receiving the victory months afterwards is a very hollow victory