Landis Denies Doping Allegations

American bicyclist Floyd Landis made a public appearance today and categorically denied using any doping in his Tour de France victory. He will undergo any testing necessary to prove any elevation of his testosterone level is natural and not do to any improper conduct.

MADRID, Spain - Floyd Landis said the high testosterone that showed up in a drug screening at the Tour de France is the result of his natural metabolism — not doping of any kind — and he will undergo more tests to prove it.

"We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case but a natural occurrence," Landis said at a news conference Friday, his first public appearance since the test result cast doubt on one of the most stirring comeback wins in Tour history.

Landis said in a Thursday teleconference that he had no idea what caused his elevated testosterone levels following the race's 17th stage last week, where he made his heroic charge into the Alps. But on Friday, he was adamant that the reading was the result of his natural physiology.

"I would like to make absolutely clear that I am not in any doping process," said Landis, wearing a baseball cap turned backward and a white shirt with the name of his Phonak team. "I ask not to be judged by anyone, much less sentenced by anyone."

Landis is still awaiting results from a backup sample, which will clear him if found to be negative. Switzerland-based Phonak said it would ask that the backup sample be tested in the next few days.

Landis's lawyer, Luis Sanz, said he fully expected the backup test to come back with the same result, since the elevated testosterone was produced naturally by Landis's body. The 30-year-old cyclist said Friday that he would undergo additional testing to prove it.

"I will procede to under go all these tests … to accredit that the levels that I've had during the Tour and all my career are natural and produced by my own organism," he said.

Until those tests are conducted, Landis said, "I ask not to be judged, or much less to be sentenced by anyone."

If ultimately proven guilty, he could be stripped of the Tour title and fired from the team.

It would be well to remember the charges leveled against Lance Armstrong as well. You know, the charges that turned out to be false? Earlier post here.

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  By Sarge, Friday, 28 July , 2006 @ 2:50 pm

  Sent you the op/ed.

Other Links to this Post

1. The Buzz Blog — Friday, 28 July , 2006 @ 3:34 pm