[MikeWaters]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/sp...ycling.html?hp

Federal investigators and antidoping officials from the United States, including the federal agent Jeff Novitzky, have elevated their investigation of Lance Armstrong and are in France to meet with antidoping officials and members of Interpol, according to a person briefed on the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In recent weeks the investigation of Armstrong has appeared to branch out internationally. Last week authorities in Italy raided the Tuscany apartment of the Ukrainian cyclist Yaroslav Popovych, who rode with Armstrong’s 2005 Tour de France team and on Armstrong’s teams in 2009 and 2010. The raid came days after Popovych testified before the grand jury.