US bicycle racer Floyd Landis presented his defense against doping charges on his website Thursday. He cites the French lab for analytical errors, incorrectly labeled samples, not following international standards and lack of evidence chain-of-custody.
At least that's what I read in a couple of early news stories. By the time I logged on this morning to read the case he was making, the FloydLandis.com website was swamped or had crashed. Either way, I couldn't get in.
I made it later in the morning. Try this link for the specific post — Landis case information now online (can't download docs, must be a traffic jam) or go to “It's Here” at Trust but Verify. A mirror download site also has all the documents.
The filings consist of some 300 pages of lab documents from the World Anti-Doping Agency, a motion from Landis' lawyer, and a 26-slide PowerPoint presentation by doctor and coach Arnie Baker, who says, “The whole process has been full of errors.”
Slide show
I've checked out Baker's PowerPoint presentation. It makes very strong arguments that lab specimens were mishandled and mislabeled, specimens might have been contaminated, lab results were inconsistent and did not meet criteria for doping.
However, this is the Landis team arguing for the defense. It's their best shot. Baker says these are the “most important and easily understood basic problems.” I have to ask myself: Can there be other explanations? We won't know until the other side is heard from, and that might not happen until hearings are scheduled for early next year.
But I really give credit to Landis for releasing this information, warts and all. The way they're spinning it may save his career for the future, but it also opens the case up for analysis by any lab technicians with a home or office computer and a desire to comment on the case. With the raw data out there, it could go either way.
(Previous stories and Floyd Landis news feeds at Floyd Landis Watch)
(Also, read profile of attorney Howard Jacobs in the Mercury-News)
Irony
In advancing the Landis' efforts at a public defense, the New York Times reported that the director for the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal said it was frustrating to see athletes fighting cases publicly when anti-doping scientists most follow confidentiality rules that they remain silent.
“You have the other side explaining their case, and it may look like an awful mistake that they are in the case at all,” said Christiane Ayotte.
That's an ironic quote, as Landis charged WADA and Union Cycliste International with releasing details of his case to the media before informing him. In fact, the New York Times was the conduit for the leak regarding synthetic testosterone in Landis' urine samples.
Documentation
Specifically, there are three groups of documents:
1. Landis attorney Howard Jacobs' motion for dismissal of the charges to the review board of the US Anti-Doping Agency. This action failed. The board recommended that US ADA take disciplinary action against the cyclist, which means a hearing will be held early next year. Landis faces a two-year suspension from pro cycling and loss of his Tour de France championship. (Link Jacobs motion) (Archive site download for Jacob's motion)
2. Documentation from the World Anti-Doping Agency regarding Landis' “A” and “B” urine samples. Landis was cited for a higher than normal testosterone/epitestosterone sample and for having traces of synthetic testosterone. (Link WADA documents) (Archive site download for WADA documentation)
3. The Baker PowerPoint that attacks the test used to detect synthetic testosterone, variations in sample testing results, and sloppy lab work. (Link Baker PowerPoint) (Archive site for Baker PowerPoint)
The blogger at Trust but Verify has begun distilling all the information. Here are links to Jacobs motion to the review board, Baker's PowerPoint presentation, and French lab documents.
Also, the “Doping Discussion” threads at Daily Peloton Forums are discussing aspects of the case Thursday morning; that “Floyd” member has been verified as being Floyd Landis.
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