Floyd Landis is taking his doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in an attempt to overturn the ruling that threatens to ban him from cycling until Jan. 30, 2009.
There are no more appeals left for Landis after the Swiss-based court hears the case.
Landis announced his appeal from his defense-fund website, the Floyd Landis Fund.
“Knowing that the accusations against me are simply wrong, and having risked all my energy and resources – including those of my family, friends and supporters – to show clearly that I won the 2006 Tour de France fair and square, I will continue to fight for what I know is right.”
Three weeks ago, a three-judge arbitration panel ruled against Landis by a 2-1 vote. While agreeing that a French lab did shoddy work in alleging he doped during Stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France, two of the panelists backed the lab's findings that he used synthetic testosterone.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Landis's defense teams has until Oct. 18 to file an appeal. A hearing date would be set by mid-November.
Landis continues at the website:
“Doping in sport seems to continue to get worse under the current anti-doping system, and this is only a part of the huge amount of proof that the WADA/USADA system needs a total overhaul. I will continue to work to clear my name and fight for change in the name of fairness and justice.
“No matter the final outcome of my case, there must be change in the current system if athletes can ever hope to compete on a level playing field and return to the joy and inspiration that sport can bring all of us.”
The Murrietta, California-based cyclist spent about $2 million on his first appeal. LA Times says the second won't cost as much.
Landis's case was buoyed recently when 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong came to his defense, saying the accusations of sloppiness against the French lab should be enough to vindicate him.
Check the Trust but Verify blog for more details on the case.
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