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Landis case twist: hacking lab computerFrench national police have summoned Landis and his longtime coach, San Diego physician Arnie Baker, to answer questions in connection with the illicit access of the computer system of the French laboratory that tested Landis' samples from the Tour. Neither attended a May 5 court appearance, according to media reports, and now the head of France's anti-doping agency is calling for international authorities to get involved.
“If it is the only way for Floyd Landis and Arnie Baker to explain themselves,” AFLD president Pierre Bordry was quoted in French by Le Monde newspaper, “I won't hesitate to demand the judge issue an international arrest warrant.”
Baker, an icon in the local cycling community, did not return phone or e-mail messages. Landis, who lives in Idyllwild, was unavailable for comment.
Bordry reported in late 2006 that the computer system at the LNDD lab outside Paris had been breached and several sensitive documents pirated. The documents, which indicated the French lab had corrected mistakes in other doping cases, turned up in fraudulent e-mails sent from the lab's e-mail server to various anti-doping agencies and journalists.
Baker also included some of the documents in “The Wiki defense,” a series of Power Point presentations at bike shops and ultimately an online book he authored to vouch for Landis' innocence.
But French authorities became suspicious when one of the recipients of the stolen documents, Montreal anti-doping lab director Christiane Ayotte, conducted a history search on the file – a copy of which she provided to the Union-Tribune. The previous user is listed as “Arnie.”
Detectives in a special information technology crime division, according to French media, tracked the LNDD incident to Kargas Consultants. In the process of the investigation, they also discovered that Kargas was behind hacking into the computer of an executive from Greenpeace, allegedly on behalf of a French nuclear energy company.
The man accused of gaining unauthorized access to the French lab's computer, Alain Quiros, reportedly said he was paid 2,000 Euros (about $2,800) by Kargas, but it remains unclear whether there is direct evidence that Baker or anyone else in the Landis camp commissioned the job. Le Monde wrote that detectives linked Baker through an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
The Le Monde story also said Baker wrote a letter in response to the police summons, asking a series of questions about the French legal process but not indicating when or if he might appear.
Landis, 33, is part of the OUCH cycling team that is competing in North American races this season. He is not expected to race in France.
SportsOneSource.com Printer-Friendly FormatRECALL: Norco, Trek, Cannondale Bikes
SportsOneSource Media Posted: 5/19/2009
Three bike manufacturers - Norco, Trek, Cannondale - have issued voluntary recalls of their products in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Norco Bicycle Frames
The recalled frames were sold at various bicycle distributors nationwide from September 2006 through February 2009 for between $2,000 and $7,000.
The bicycle frame can crack and separate, causing a rider to fall from the bicycle and suffer injuries. Norco has received one report of a rider who fractured their collar bone after falling from the bicycle.
The recalled bicycle frames include the following model year and model names: 2007 Team DH, 2008 Team DH, Aline Park, Aline, Atomik, Shore 1,2,3, 2009 Atomik (without gussets). All colors are included in the recall and the model name is printed on a decal on the top tube of each
frame/bike.
Trek
About 16,000 bicycles with JD suspension forks were imported by Trek Bicycle Corp., of Waterloo, WI, and sold at Trek bicycle dealers nationwide from August 2008 through April 2009 for between $640 and $940.
The recalled bicycle's fork can lose alignment causing the front wheel to turn unexpectedly. This can cause the rider to lose control of the bicycle and crash. There have been four reports of misaligned forks. No
injuries have been reported.
The recall involves model year 2009 Trek 7300, 7300WSD, and 7500 bicycles. The model name is printed on the bicycle's frame. The bicycles have a suspension fork with the words "Bontrager SPA" printed on them.
Consumers should stop riding the recalled bicycles immediately and contact their dealer to arrange for a free repair.
Cannondale
About 1,500 bicycles with JD suspension forks were imported by Cannondale Bicycle Corp. and sold at Cannondale bicycle dealers from February 2009 through April 2009 for between $600 and $800.
The recalled bicycle's fork can lose alignment causing the front wheel to turn unexpectedly. This can cause the rider to lose control of the bicycle and crash. There have been no reported injuries.
The recall involves model year 2008 Cannondale Adventure 2, Adventure 3, Adventure 2 Feminine and Adventure 3 Feminine bicycles. The model name is printed on the bicycle's frame. The bicycles have a suspension fork with the words "cannondale AT35 adventure trail" printed on them. Bicycles equipped with the Rock Shox i-ride fork are not included in the recall.
Consumers should stop riding the recalled bicycles immediately and contact their dealer to arrange for a free repair.
Ritter in Springs today to sign bill protecting rights of cyclists | bill, cyclists, sign - Top Stories - Colorado Springs Gazette, CORitter in Springs today to sign bill protecting rights of cyclists
Comments 47 | Recommend 6
May 11, 2009 - 10:03 AM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign a bill here today aimed at protecting the rights of cyclists.
The measure (Senate Bill 148) requires that drivers give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing or risk a $110 ticket.
Anyone who throws an object at a cyclist could be charged with a class 2 misdemeanor. That carries a fine of between $250 and $1,000 and a possible sentence of three to 12 months in jail.
The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan pair of avid cyclists - Republican Sen. Greg Brophy and Democratic Rep. Mike Merrifield. It will take effect Aug. 5.
The governor plans to sign the bill along with six others at Penrose Library.
Among the bills:
SB 148 (Brophy/Merrifield), Bicycle Safety Bill
SB 110 (Morse/Levy), Civil Rights Commission
HB 1058 (Morse/Marostica), Abandoned Military Remains
HB 1250 (Merrifield/Penry), Federal Money to Counties for School Districts
HB 1290 (Nikkel & Apuan/Harvey), Student Financial Aid National Guard
HB 1313 (Merrifield/Bacon), Expand Higher Ed Civic Engagement
HB 1334 (McCann & Apuan/Newell), Aggregate Two Theft Offenses
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