When Floyd Landis told the ESPN that he will be providing information to anti-doping authorities and the cycling organization about the rampant doping in pro-cycling, some cyclists criticized him for his claims. He also received negative comments and most of them questioned his credibility. Of course, as expected, Landis will face a hard time convincing everybody that his story is true and not a result of bitterness and anger due to his conviction and loss of title in the 2006 Tour de France.

Whether the allegations were true or not, Landis is courageous enough to name some of the big names in pro-cycling including his former teammate in the US Postal Service, Lance Armstrong. In an e-mail divulge to the media, Landis also accused other American cyclists Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie. There was also an allegation that Johan Bruyneel, coach of Lance Armstrong was directly involved in doping his ward. Other names that surfaced include the Italian doctor Michele Ferrari who allegedly aided them in doing illegal blood transfusions.

What is more alarming is the allegation that Armstrong and coach Bruyneel were able to cover up a positive EPO test in 2002 by bribing an International Cycling Union official. Landis even shared a detailed information on how Armstrong used illegal performance enhancing drugs.

Landis said in the email that his former teammate provided him with the blood boosting EPO or erythropoietin. He even watched Armstrong inject EPO and perform blood transfusions. Coach Bruyneel thought him how to use testosterone patches effectively without being caught.

There was also an instance where Landis have to tend to Armstrong’s apartment in Girona, Spain to take good care of the blood bags stored in the refrigerator. “Mr. Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train (so) he asked me to stay in his place and make sure the electricity didn’t turn off or something go wrong with the refrigerator. I was asked to stay and check the blood temperature every day,” Landis said.

Landis added that in 2003 Tour de France, the US Postal Service riders headed by Lance Armstrong and together with other team members underwent blood transfusions in a bus. “The driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour so the entire team could have a half liter of blood,” he said.

Lance Armstrong has firmly denied that he took any performance enhancing drugs. He said that there is no solid evidence that will prove that he used steroids and other PED’s. The 7-time Tour de France champion lambasted Floyd Landis for making these allegations. “He has no proof. It’s our word against his word. I like our word. We like our credibility. Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago. It’s very sad. At one point or another, all of us implicated have cared about Floyd. We might have been on different teams or from different backgrounds in our lives, but at some point or another, we shared the bond that we all gave Floyd a ladder. When he dug himself in a hole, we gave him a ladder to dig out of. Now, people aren’t throwing ladders at him anymore,” said Armstrong.

He also questioned Landis’ credibility. “I remind everybody that this is a man who wrote a book for profit and now has a completely different version. This is somebody who took close to $1 million from innocent people for his defense under a different premise,” he said. As of this moment, Armstrong has no plans of suing Landis for defamation. “Legal action takes time and a lot of money. I’ve sued a few people in my time successfully. I don’t have to do that again,” said Armstrong.

Coach Bruyneel has this to say, “I’ve always known Floyd as an angry person, somebody who’s basically angry with the world. To me, it sounds like he just wants to drag down people who are still there and enjoying this.”

Landis’ revelations have not only created a word war with his former teammate but have encouraged other sports stakeholders to share their opinions and also criticized his actions. Here are some of their statements when interviewed by the media.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee:
“He has to bring proof that this is true. These are accusations that need to be corroborated by proof. You can’t condemn without proof. He would be better off by giving evidence to corroborate that, otherwise he is risking a lot of libels. You can only sanction an athlete with tangible proof.”

John Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency:
“If he has evidence, he should make that evidence available to the USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) or UCI (International Cycling Union), and I’m sure if there is any substance to that evidence, either of those bodies would act” There will always be rumors about it.”

Pat McQuaid, UCI president:
“What’s his agenda? The guy is seeking revenge. It’s sad, it’s sad for cycling. It’s obvious he does hold a grudge. He already made those accusations in the past. Armstrong has been accused many times in the past but nothing has been proved against him. And in this case, I have to question the guy’s credibility. There is no proof of what he says. We are speaking about a guy who has been condemned for doping before a court.”

Trackback URI | Comments RSS