Lance Armstrong teammate Yaroslav Popovych reportedly to appear before grand jury looking into doping
Yaroslav Popovych, a teammate of Lance Armstrong on the Discovery Channel, Astana and RadioShack squads, will appear Wednesday before a grand jury in Los Angeles that is looking into doping in cycling, according to two sources who do not have permission to speak publicly.
Popovych, who is from Ukraine, participated in the Livestrong Challenge Austin cancer charity event in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 22-24 and was served with a subpoena after the ride, according to the sources.
FOR THE RECORD:
Cycling and doping: In the Nov. 3 Sports section, an article reporting that cyclist Yaroslav Popovych would testify before a Los Angeles grand jury looking into allegations of doping in the sport also said that Floyd Landis had served a doping suspension after winning the 2005 Tour de France. Landis won the race in 2006 before being stripped of the title. —
Rather than return home to Ukraine, Popovych has remained in the United States and retained Ken Miller, an attorney from San Clemente.
Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani said the cyclist has not been informed he is a target of the investigation and has not been asked to testify. But several staff members and teammates of Armstrong have testified in front of the grand jury, including Stephanie McIlvain, who was an Oakley sunglasses representative who worked with Armstrong; exercise physiologist Allan Lim, who has worked for several cycling teams; and former rider and Olympic medalist Tyler Hamilton, who is serving his second doping suspension.
Federal authorities have refused to comment on the investigation, which is being conducted by Food and Drug Administration agent Jeff Novitzky. Novitzky has previously headed investigations into steroid abuse in both Major League Baseball and track and field.
The investigation seemed to heat up after a series of e-mails sent by Floyd Landis to Armstrong became public and after Landis admitted to his own doping.
Landis served a two-year doping suspension after winning the 2005 Tour de France.Since last May, he has given accounts of what he says was systematic doping that took place while he and Armstrong rode for the U.S. Postal Service team.
Armstrong has never failed a doping test.
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