APNewsBreak: Feds ask for help with Armstrong case

 Discouraged by the type of finger a jury gave Barry Bonds, U.S. investigators are going forward in another case, related to drugs, against another athlete superstar - Lance Armstrong.

In France, where Armstrong became famous by winning the Tour of France seven straight times, officials received a request from the US authorities last month to help gather evidence on the cyclist and other members of his former US Postal team.

The move indicates federal authorities seek to bolster their case against Armstrong so that they can give a grand jury in Los Angeles the most complete possible account the cyclist actions deciding whether Armstrong, as obligations, should also face criminal charges related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Seat familiar Interpol in, has said of the French France of summer in Europe since the endprosecutors and anti-doping officials of France, Belgium and Italy.

The demand for American evidence specifically target U.S. Postal and mentions Armstrong by name, said responsible who saw him. To date, federal prosecutors asked several people connected to Armstrong to testify before the grand jury, including Allen Lim and Ukrainian cyclist exercise physiologist and his former teammate Armstrong Yaroslav Popovych.

January 24, 2011, file photo shows Lance Armstrong during a walk cycle of fundraising in Brisbane, Australia. The American authorities ask European leaders with gathering evidence against Armstrong in a case concerning the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Those familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press, the application of evidence made to French officials mentioned Armstrong by name and specifically target him and other members of his former US Postal team.

Associated press journalists with the United States and in Europe interviewed on half a dozen people familiar with the case, who asked their names not be used because they are not allowed to speak in public the investigation. Probe focusing initially on the cycling team Rock Racing, then turned to Armstrong after a former teammate, Floyd Landis alleged Armstrong had a system of doping of long duration in place.

The people said the case against Armstrong, who has firmly refused to doping and never failed a drug test, could lead to charges of fraud and conspiracy related to the building of an anti-doping program, at least part of which was supposed to operate while his team received sponsorship from the Government.

"This case is not like bonds and Clemens," said a person familiar with the investigation, raise the trial of pitcher Roger Clemens perjury related to alleged use of SAP. "Those who were on the lie." It's about corruption at the core.

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the Office of the Attorney for the U.S. in Los Angeles, declined to comment.

Mark Fabiani, counsel to Armstrong, criticized investigators for leaking "information interested."

"Persistent, inaccurate leaks may not change the facts: this investigation is ongoing for a year, and the only result has been a huge waste of taxpayer dollars and the diversion of resources for prosecution,"Fabiani said."".

The application of the United States to the French is one of the most recent developments in the case, which has also progressed in the United States, Italy and other European countries, with researchers seeking records of telephone and Bank, with statements by dozens of witnesses who have had contact with Armstrong over the years.

An official who spoke with the AP describes the combined efforts as a team tent that Skeptics asked aloud to implement a puzzle, well if this is the time and money to resolve.