Cirque de Landis: Can anyone speak French?

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News feature: Floyd Landis' arbitration hearing, May 16, 2007

Cirque de Landis: Can anyone speak French?

Following the first day's swing from enthusiastic and dramatic opening statements to the more mellow (but equally dramatic) testimony by two expert witnesses, the second day began with the conclusion of cross-examination of one of the expert witnesses, Dr. J. Thomas Brenna, by Landis' counsel Maurice Suh.

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Again, the examination centered around the measurement of uncertainty with the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) test for synthetic testosterone. Dr. Brenna was asked about the differences in the IRMS data returns between the manual, or quality control step, and the auto analysis by the machine.

The final parts of the examination of Dr. Brenna focused on the retesting of the samples done at LNDD. The re-running of the samples produced a log sheet - which Mr. Suh commented that USADA had worked to prevent the Landis team from accessing. This log sheet indicated a re-rerunning of the test within ten minutes of the first analysis. The data from the first analysis was not saved, but overwritten by the second analysis, and multiple times on the same day.

The USADA side rebutted Mr. Suh's questions about the differences in the auto versus the manual steps of the test. As well, in regards to the overwritten log files, the USADA counsel asked if there was an opportunity to review the logs given to the Landis team. "[Dr. Davis, Landis' expert present at the testing] was given an opportunity to re-analyse the data on the system but there was confusion as to why he would want to," said Dr. Brenna. "The next day he came back and said he did not need to."

Lost in translation

The biggest drama of the day involved the French interpreter, Pierre Debboudt, of the National Court Reporters. Mr. Debboudt made noticeable errors with specifics of the testimony from the actual LNDD tester of the samples, Cynthia Mongongu. Mr. Suh finally objected at the point when the translator misinterpreted the quantification of "a day-and-a-half" to be "an hour-and-a-half." Mr. Debboudt was dismissed from his duties and the hearing was adjourned for 45 minutes while a replacement for Mr. Debboudt could be located.

More than an hour later the replacement, Martitia Palmer of the Judicial Council of California, resumed the translation duties. However, she was distressed by the fact that she was not able to familiarize herself with the specifics of the case and the terminology of the procedures. Nonetheless, the hearing pressed on. When the answer in question came up again, and Ms. Palmer correctly interpreted it, applause from the press room ensued.

The examination of Ms. Mongongu commenced with questions regarding the specific process of testing the samples. The questions were describing the specific steps of the procedures and then verifying that these steps were the ones followed, to the letter, regarding the testing of the Landis samples. The process consisted of three steps, including a quality control, an instrument verification process, then injection of the actual samples into the IRMS machine for measurement.

Again, one of the areas of concentration by the USADA counsel was that of the auto versus the manual verification of the results.

Following this, USADA counsel turned to the previous arguments made by the Landis team about the software log which indicated that multiple processing of the sample had occurred.

The USADA counsel asked Ms. Mongongu to fully explain why there were multiple entries. "When we reprocessed the results I was asked to bring out data to do three reports on the data," Ms. Mongongu said. "One which dealt with the automatic reprocessing of the data, the verification I had originally performed and the third was the subtraction of the background noise. Then after that we inserted or replaced the electronic data into the MastLink software. Then I reprocessed the results using that other software."

Much more to come

The Landis side was not able to begin its cross-examination of Ms. Mongongu today, and will likely lead-off Wednesday with it. Also, the witness list that was disclosed yesterday indicates some potential further drama, with Greg Lemond, Joe Papp and Floyd Landis himself listed as witnesses. And the nearly four hours of delay means that the hearing could spill over into the weekend to make up the lost time.

As was the case yesterday, nobody involved with the proceedings, including Landis, made any comment as all are prohibited from doing so per the rules of the arbitration.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP

• Another day, another yellow tie for Floyd Landis on day two of his arbitration hearing at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.
• LNDD Director Jacques de Ceaurriz (l) sits alongside LNDD analytical chemists Claire Frelat (c) and Cynthia Mongongou.
• Landis' attorney Maurice Suh was looking for holes in the French lab's analysis procedures.
• Amber Landis was present at the hearing for a second day.
• LNDD Analytical Chemist Cynthia Mongongou gives evidence during day two.
• The USADA's lawyer Richard Young takes notes during the day's proceedings.

Cyclingnews' coverage of the Floyd Landis case

September 28, 2008 - Landis takes case to US federal court
September 10, 2008 - Landis signing with current Health Net-Maxxis team for 2009
July 1, 2008 - CAS delivers final blow to Landis legal challenge
June 30, 2008 - Landis loses final appeal
June 28, 2008 - Landis decision due Monday
March 12, 2008 - Landis' judgment day nears
October 21, 2007 - Landis files appeal with CAS
October 18, 2007 - AFLD takes another look at Landis case
Thursday, October 11 - Landis continues fight, appeals to CAS
Saturday, September 22 - UCI officially names Pereiro 2006 Tour champion, Landis case raises issues
Friday, September 21 - Landis' appeal denied, two year suspension levied

Cyclingnews' complete coverage of the Floyd Landis case