French anti-doping body ready to hand over Armstrong’s samples from 1999 to US investigators
By APThursday, September 16, 2010
French agency ready to hand over Armstrong samples
PARIS — The head of France’s anti-doping agency says he is ready to fully collaborate with a U.S. federal investigation into Lance Armstrong.
Pierre Bordry said Thursday he will hand over Armstrong’s “B” samples from the 1999 Tour de France to Jeff Novitzky if the Food and Drug Administration agent makes an official request.
French sports daily L’Equipe reported in 2005 that Armstrong’s backup “B” samples from 1999 contained EPO — a banned blood-boosting hormone. Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner, was later cleared by an independent panel.
Novitzky and a federal prosecutor have been handling an inquiry into allegations of organized doping in professional cycling, including whether Armstrong and members of his United States Postal Service team may have been involved.
