I think you're right Joe. Any sort of smear will do for the tabloids, if it might sell a few more copies.
What exactly did these other team mates confirm? That Landis had made some accusations? That's all the story says.
It does not say these others saw Lance using illegal substances, or using the same ones they did, or that they independently sampled Lance's urine and had it tested.
It doesn't ask why, if they knew this, they did nothing about it at the time.
The story is meant to meant to make people think that Lance did - and that would appear to be all the tobacco lobby want.
Makes me sick to read this stuff. It won't be long before our Oz media start a similar campaign against Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim - just you wait and see.
Why praise a true hero when you can destroy him by dragging his name through the dirt
ATB
MikeW