Case reminescent of Tyler Hamilton's
Last year's winner of the Tour of California, Tour de Georgia and Tour de France has pretty much ruled out professional cycling this year, Floyd Landis said in an interview at ESPN.com.
The pokey pace of his doping case means he's written off the 2007 season, even if he's vindicated.
I'm glad Landis has stayed motivated the past few months and held onto the prospect of cycling this year, but it doesn't seem much of a surprise that this case has dragged out so long.
Consider American cyclist Tyler Hamilton, who was busted at the Vuelta a Espana in the fall of 2004. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) didn't rule on his case until April 2005, handing down a 2-year ban.
Hamilton then appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled against him in February 2006. The two-year ban from pro cycling ended in September 2006, and he's now a member of the new Russian team, Tinkoff.
Landis' case appears to be going at the same speed. Regardless how the US hearing turns out, the losing side would probably appeal the case to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport. Even if he's vindicated, Landis might not be cleared to race until this time next year.
No hearings scheduled
As for Landis, no USADA hearings have been scheduled on the allegations that he had a a high testosterone-epitestosterone ratio in his blood after Stage 17 of the Tour de France. Landis categorically denies any doping that would cause this condition and has pointed to errors in lab tests.
ESPN says the hearing panel, made up of three members of the American Arbitration Association, has been chosen, but Landis told ESPN that his legal team has faced obstacles preparing the case. The USADA general counsel says his agency is ready to proceed.
The attorney for both Landis and Hamilton is Howard Jacobs. He says attempts to gain documents to defend his client have been blocked.
In the meantime, Landis has been recovering from a hip operation. Although he's been training, he admits it isn't enough to get back into racing form.
More ongoing news about the Landis case at Trust but Verify. See also the FloydLandis blog and the Floyd Fairness Fund.
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