“It is a public relations effort by Landis to get public opinion behind him. It is easy to make up a power point presentation and put what you want on it.”
That's the reaction of Pat McQuaid, head of the Union Cycliste Internationale, to a PowerPoint slideshow prepared by Floyd Landis doc Arnie Barker. The slides suggest problems with tests performed on Landis' urine samples, specimens were mishandled or mislabelled, and could have been contaminated.
McQuaid has more than a passing interest in ensuring Landis is found guilty. The UCI was the first to announce one case of an “adverse analytical finding following an anti-doping test carried out at the Tour de France 2006.” While saying it couldn't name the rider until all the tests were completed, the press release ignited a firestorm of speculation that led to Landis in less than 24 hours.
UCI will appeal if the US Anti-Doping Agency doesn't punish Landis after a hearing next year, McQuaid said. A two-year pro cycling ban and loss of Tour de France title is expected in the case.
Any appeal, by UCI or Landis, goes to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The PowerPoint presentation, as well as 300-some pages of lab documentation and a brief filed by Landis attorney Howard Jacobs, are available at FloydLandis.com.
“UCI chief dismisses Landis 'public relations effort,'” Mercury News, Oct. 13, 2006
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