According to reports in American media, cyclist Floyd Landis has admitted he doped throughout his career. Landis was the centre of doping scandal when his victory in the 2006 Tour de France was declared null and void after traces of testosterone were discovered in a sample taken on Stage 19 of the race.
In an extraordinary revelation, Landis has admitted that he had doped throughout his career. It is reported that Landis sent a series of emails over the last number of weeks to officials within USA Cycling and the UCI, detailing doping practices that went on during his time as a professional cyclist. The emails allegedly contain the names of several riders, team mates and officials involved in doping practices, including seven time Tour winner Lance Armstrong. According to the emails, he explains how riders conducted blood transfusions, took EPO and used steroids. Landis said he started using testosterone patches, then moving to using blood transfusions, EPO, and a liquid steroid ingested orally. Bike Pure are led to believe from several sources that the emails are genuine.
In a statement on the New York Times website Landis said, ““I want to clear my conscience, I don’t want to be part of the problem any more.” Since Landis returned from suspension he has struggled to ride at the level he rode previously.
Many will remember Landis bringing his high profile doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), stating an error of the laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry in the analysis of his samples. He also brought about in organizing a crusade to challenge the verdict against him where fans were asked to donate to help his cause. This shows the severity of the doping problem, that riders will go to almost any length to cover up their wrong doings.
We have to ask why you would spend almost $2million trying to clear your name, why encourage your fans to finance a campaign to clear your name? Why lie for so many years?
Reports suggest that Landis’ personal life has crumbled over recent times and maybe it’s as a result he felt the need to put his demons to bed, come clean and put his past behind him. Shame he didn’t come clean in July 2006, then maybe we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Cyclesport’s image takes another battering, It’s a desolate story but one that must be told. With his revelations, Landis may well be left in the cold from here on in and some will say he deserves to be left with nothing.
If the problem of cheating is to be tackled head on, it’s not only riders that must face the repercussions. Team managers, doctors and every other link in the doping chain has to be eradicated.
Today there will be many riders, former riders and team officials who’ll know exactly what Landis has expressed in his ‘confession’. If they too stood up with a clear conscience, then we can hopefully begin a path and a situation where riders aren’t afraid to speak out and the doping chain can be broken.
Comments
Carl Dean 31.05.2010 at 10:27pm
Pat said this today" "Let's move forward. As president of the UCI, I prefer to look forward to the cycling of today and the cycling of tomorrow, rather than the cycling of yesterday and years gone by. And that includes Floyd Landis and what have you." I read THE BRIBES into "what have you"
César 20.05.2010 at 10:11pm
In the last TDF, Armstrong finished with more red cells than when he started. Then I understood why he says that Dr. Ferrari is 'a brilliant mathematician'
sharkie 20.05.2010 at 08:36pm
Well it all comes out. Fair play to Floyd for spilling the beans and ending the career of Lance Armstrong and I hope there is more to follow up on this. A sad day for many though.
Stephen Belois 20.05.2010 at 05:23pm
Content of letter in case anyone wants to know: 2002: I was instructed on how to use Testosterone patches by Johan Bruyneel during the During the Dauphine Libere in June, after which I flew on a helicopter with Mr Armstrong from the finish, I believe Grenoble, to San Mauritz Switzerland at which point I was personally handed a box of 2.5 mg patches in front of his wife who witnessed the exchange. About a week later, Dr Ferrari performed an extraction of half a liter of blood to be transfused back into me during the Tour de France. Mr Armstrong was not witness to the extraction but he and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test. He also divulged to me at that time that in the first year that the EPO test was used he had been told by Mr Ferrari, who had access to the new test, that he should not use EPO anymore but he did not believe Mr Farrari and contin ued to use it. He later, while winning the Tour de Swiss, the month before the Tour de France, tested positive for EPO at which point he and Mr Bruyneel flew to the UCI headquarters and made a financial agreement with Mr. Vrubrugen to keep the positive test hidden. 2003: After a broken hip in the winter, I flew to Gerona Spain where this time two units (half a liter each) were extracted three weeks apart. This took place in the apartment in which Mr. Armstrong lived and in which I was asked to stay and check the blood temperature every day. It was kept in a small refrigerator in the closet allong with the blood of Mr Armstrong and George Hincapie and since Mr. Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train he asked me to stay in his place and make sure the electricity didn't turn off or something go wrong with the referigerator. Then during the Tour de France the entire team, on two different occasions went to the room that we were told and the doctor met us there to do the transfusions. During that Tour de France I personally witnessed George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Chechu Rubiera, and myself receiving blood transfusions. Also during that Tour de France the team doctor would give my room mate, George Hincapie an d I a small syringe of olive oil in which was disolved andriol, a form of ingestible testosterone on two out of three nights throughout the duration. I was asked to ride the Vuelta a Espana that year in support of Roberto Heras and in August, between the Tour and the Vuelta, was told to take EPO to raise my hematocrit back up so more blood transfusions could be performed. I was instructed to go to Lances place by Johan Bruyneel and get some EPO from him. The first EPO I ever used was then handed to me in the entry way to his building in full view of his then wife. It was Eprex by brand and it came in six pre measured syringes. I used it intravenously for several weeks before the next blood draw and had no problems with the tests during the Vuelta. Also during this time it was explained to me how to use Human Growth Hormone by Johan Bruyneel and I bought what I needed from Pepe the team "trainer" who lived in Valencia along with the team doctor at that time. While training for that Vuelta I spent a good deal of time training with Matthew White and Michael Barry and shared the testosterone and EPO that we had and discu ssed the use thereof while training. Again, during the Vuelta we were given Andriol and blood transfusions by the team doctor and had no problems with any testing. 2004: Again the team performed two seperate blood transfusions on me, but this time Bruyneel had become more paranoid and we did the draws by flying to Belgium and meeting at an unknown persons appartment and the blood was brought by "Duffy" who was at that time Johans assistant of sorts. The second of which was performed on the team bus on the ride from the finish of a stage to the hotel during which the driver pretended to have engine trouble and stopped on a remote mountain road for an hour or so so the entire team could have half a liter of blood added. This was the only time that I ever saw the entire team being transfused in plain view of all the other riders and bus driver. That team included Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie and I as the only Americans. 2005: I had learned at this point how to do most of the transfusion technicals and other things on my own so I hired Allen Lim as my assistant to help with details and logistics. He helped Levi Leipheimer and I prepare the transfusions for Levi and I and made sure they were kept at the proper temperature. We both did two seperate transfusions that Tour however my hematocrit was too low at the start so I did my first one a few days before the start so as to not start with a deficit. 2006: Well you get the idea....... One thing of great signigicance is that I sat down with Andy Riis and explained to him what was done in the past and what was the risk I would be taking and ask for his permission which he granted in the form of funds to complete the operation described. John Lelangue was also informed by me and Andy Riis consulted with Jim Ochowitz before agreeing. There are many many more details that I have in diaries and am in the process of writing into an intelligible story but since the position of USA Cycling is that there have not been enough details shared to justify calling USADA, I am writing as many as I can reasonably put into an email and share with you so as to ascertain what is the process which USA Cycling uses to proceed with such allegations. Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing. Floyd Landis
BikePure NY 20.05.2010 at 02:20pm
When Floyd Landis was back racing at Team Ouch- open arms + Short memories. Recall Phonak, Andy Rihs the team manager, had signed a three-year contract with iShares to become the team's title sponsor beginning in 2007. When Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone and ruined the TDF, the three year deal , supporting 50 wages for riders and staff:- gone, lost. The team disbanded at the end of the 2006 season team, Landis single handedly dumped nearly $17 million investment from cycling. Now he is broke are we supposed to feel sorry! By his cheating , he has emptied his own pockets. the bitter finger pointing may have substance but our sport is better without these cheats.
Ray 20.05.2010 at 01:45pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=5203604 Chad in the actual ESPN.com interview Floyd states that he would repay the fans that contributed if he could.
Ray 20.05.2010 at 01:35pm
A man who spent millions to try to prove a lie suddenly trying to redeem himself sounds suspicious. The same way we have to look at Floyd's allegations against others, we have to question him and find out what his motivations and why suddenly come out now. I don't trust him and believe he is truly out to get money, but there is still a possibility of truth. Innocent until proven guilty, and the burden of proof is on the accusser.
Chad 20.05.2010 at 01:32pm
Is Floyd going to give all that money back that the fans donated for his legal defense fund?
Gabriella Sotgiu 20.05.2010 at 12:34pm
I couldn't agree with you more about the people surrounding these riders having to take some responsibility. My son, aged 13 wants to be a pro rider. If anyone offered him any type of enhancing drug I would hold them responsible! And kick his arse of course. I believe you are responsible for your own actions but the people supplying the drugs and info also have to be responsible for their actions too. :)
Al Davids 20.05.2010 at 12:14pm
I really don't think Landis is setting out to get anyone. He's simply confessing, getting it off his conscience. Hopefully trying to right his wrongs. Must be painful to see his former teammates make millions whilst he's having a hard time though!!
Ray 20.05.2010 at 12:10pm
I'm still waiting to see what an investigation turns out. He's lied about not doping. Before I am willing to offer him any credibility, I would like to see an investigation conclude if he's telling the truth of if he's spinning more lies. Innocent until proven guilty, and the burden of proof lies in the accuser.
David 20.05.2010 at 12:09pm
We don't know what the truth is. A clean conscious is his story line. It was also the story line of his book Positively False (which he wrote for profit). Allegations without any support are easy to make. Public opinion is easy to manipulate. Reserve judgment.
Debby 20.05.2010 at 12:04pm
Finally he's telling the truth. We all knew he was lying. Hope this works out to a cleaner cycling
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