Dope scam: Cyclist Armstrong hires LA lawyer for feds’ grand jury probe

NEW YORK - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has hired L.A.-based criminal defense attorney Bryan D. Daly to defend him during a federal grand jury probe into possible doping conspiracies on his cycling teams.

Daly is a former federal prosecutor and now partner in the firm Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton.

The New York Daily News quoted him as saying: “I was recently retained by Mr. Armstrong to assist him with respect to the investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. I have no comment at this time, except to say that we are going to work diligently to find out precisely what, if anything, this investigation has to do with Mr. Armstrong.”

Food and Drug Administration criminal investigator Jeff Novitzky, who uncovered the BALCO doping ring in 2003, is leading the government’s investigation.

A grand jury empanelled at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has issued subpoenas in the case to three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and the Trek Bicycle Corporation, a sponsor of Armstrong’s teams. Overseeing the case is assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Miller.

Armstrong has denied using performance-enhancing drugs and methods, and has dismissed recent accusations by his former teammate Floyd Landis, who confessed to doping this spring and says he witnessed widespread cheating on the U.S. Postal Service cycling teams in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Landis is cooperating with the federal investigation. (ANI)