Cycling - who can we trust?

20th May 2010

Here at Find Chalet towers we're all keen cyclists, some road, some mountain biking. As an avivd fan of road cycling and the Tour de France in particular I'm sickened by the latest relevations from Floyd Landis.

Cycling - who can we trust?

I remember back in 2006 when Floyd storming up that mountain stage (17) which was on the way to Morzine ( a mountain stage finish that will be repeated this year) He began the day in 11th place overall, and ended it in third just 30 seconds behind Oscar Pereiro.

He was then found to have doped - with a T/E ratio of 11:1 the maximum allowable ratio is 4:1

He denied it.

Then denied it again, then again and again. Landis appealed the decision of the committee to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He lost. He then took them to some other appeal. Spending apparently all his money, I read reports he was going to bankrupt himself, but it was worth it as he knew he was innocent.

Although there seemed to be enough evidence to think that Landis defiantely cheated, his vigourous denial of any wrong doing made me believe there was a sliver of doubt.

Landis has now finally admitted using drugs throughout his career. He has alleged that doping was sanctioned in the professional teams in which he rode and that other top American riders were involved.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Landis sent an email to Stephen Johnson, the president of USA Cycling, on 30 April, which alleged that Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong's team director since 1999, told him how to use steroid patches, blood doping and human growth hormone without fear of detection. Landis is reported to have admitted using the banned blood booster Erythropoietin (EPO), as well as steroids, human growth hormone, testosterone and blood transfusions, from 2002 onwards.

Despite repeated allegations, Armstrong has always denied doping and has never tested positive or been sanctioned by the cycling authorities.

In an interview with ESPN, Landis said: "I want to clear my conscience. I don't want to be part of the problem any more." He added: "I don't feel guilty at all about having doped. I did what I did because that's what we [cyclists] did."

The 34-year-old Landis rode for Armstrong's US Postal Service team from 2002 until 2004, before joining the Swiss Phonak team.

Landis said he wanted to speak out before the World Anti-Doping Agency's eight-year statute of limitations for doping offences comes into force. "Now we've come to the point where the statute of limitations on the things I know is going to run out or start to run out next month," Landis said. "If I don't say something now then it's pointless to ever say it."

So do we now believe Landis and disbelieve Armstrong whom so many believe has doped at some point, with so much circumstanial evidence surrounding him it seems hard to shake off.. But he does seem to be the most tested athlete in any sport tested - so surely there should be something more than rumour or circumstance to prove it.

"I have nothing to hide," Armstrong said ahead of the fifth stage of the Tour of California. "I think history speaks for itself here."

Armstrong said he had been expecting as much: "I'd say I am a little surprised but I am not," he said, adding: "It's our word against his word. I like our word. We like our credibility. Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago."

Despite repeated allegations, Armstrong has always denied doping and has never tested positive or been sanctioned by the cycling authorities.

Landis said of his decision to come clean after previously denying having used drugs: "I want to clear my conscience. I don't want to be part of the problem any more. With the benefit of hindsight, and a somewhat different perspective, I made some misjudgements. And, of course, I can sit here and say all day long [saying], 'If I could do it again I'd do something different', but I just don't have that choice.

"I don't feel guilty at all about having doped. I did what I did because that's what we did and it was a choice I had to make after 10 years or 12 years of hard work to get there, and that was a decision I had to make to make the next step. My choices were, do it and see if I can win, or don't do it and I tell people, 'I just don't want to do that', and I decided to do it."

Landis, though, still denies taking testosterone during the 2006 Tour de France.

"There must be some other explanation, whether it was done wrong or I don't know what," he said. "The problem I have with even bothering to argue it is I have used testosterone in the past and I have used it in other Tours, and it's going to sound kind of foolish to say I didn't."

Landis' accusations will now be examined by both the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the WADA.

A statement from the USADA's chief executive Travis T Tygart read: "Our duty is to fairly and thoroughly pursue any and all reliable evidence of doping to reveal the truth and to ensure honest and fair athletic competition worldwide for both fans and athletes.

"In circumstances where the process results in credible evidence of doping, USADA will follow its mandate to protect clean athletes and the integrity of sport by taking appropriate action under the rules established by federal law. With that said, we do not comment on the substance of any doping investigation."

The statement continued: "It is important to re-emphasise USADA's position that all athletes are innocent until and unless proven otherwise through the established legal process. Attempts to sensationalise or exploit either the process or the athletes are a disservice to fair play, due process, and to those who love clean sport."

The WADA president John Fahey vowed to work with the USADA on the matter.

"WADA is aware of the serious allegations made by Mr Landis," read a statement. "We are very interested in learning more about this matter and we will liaise with the United States Anti-Doping Agency and any other authorities with appropriate jurisdiction to get to the heart of the issues raised. WADA looks forward to these further investigations and enquiries by those responsible."

The International Cycling Union, though, hit out at Landis for making his allegations public.

"The UCI regrets that Mr Landis has publicly accused individuals without allowing sufficient time for the relevant US authorities to investigate," read a statement. "An impartial investigation is a fundamental right, as Mr Landis will understand having contested, for two years, the evidence of his breach of the anti-doping rules in 2006.

"The UCI will leave it to the individuals accused by Mr Landis to take the position they see fit with regards to this issue."

The Former Phonak boss Andy Rihs insisted Landis had acted alone and that the team had no knowledge of his doping activities.

"Neither I nor the management of the team knew that Floyd Landis was doped," Rihs said.

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