Failing to show up Thursday was Krzysztof Ficek, the Polish doctor, who allegedly prescribed some of the drugs imported from Lithuania.

Edita Rumsas was arrested by customs in Bonneville on July 28, 2002 as she was headed to the Italian border with a car boot that included several banned substances, including EPO, as well as syringes.

The bust took place on the same day that her husband was stepping on the podium of the Tour in Paris alongside Lance Armstrong and Joseba Beloki.

The couple are formally charged with "offering, aiding, and abeting the use of banned substances by an athlete."

Rumsas, who later tested positive for EPO on the 2003 Giro d'Italia, has steadfastly denied ever having taken banned drugs.