Landis’s Testimony Focuses on Phone Call and Fashion - New York Times

"Floyd Landis, who spent the past 10 months preparing to answer charges that he tested positive for synthetic testosterone when he won last year’s Tour de France, took the stand Tuesday against the United States Anti-Doping Agency and found that his character was as much under attack as his drug tests.
Matt Barnett, a USADA lawyer, cross-examined Landis for almost two hours Tuesday at Pepperdine University’s School of Law. Less than 45 minutes of the cross-examination had anything to do with performance-enhancing drugs."

Under Oath, Landis Denies Having Used Testosterone - New York Times

"After five days of dense scientific testimony, revelations of sexual abuse and allegations of blackmail, Floyd Landis finally spoke at his own hearing.

Landis said under oath Saturday what he has been saying in every other forum for the past 10 months: that he never of you guys need closers. I have four frontline closers w saves now used performance-enhancing drugs, even though he tested positive for synthetic testosterone when he won last year’s Tour de France.

“It’s a matter of who I am,” Landis told the three arbitrators who will decide his case against the United States Anti-Doping Agency. “It wouldn’t serve any purpose to cheat to win the Tour because I wouldn’t be proud of it."

Helena Independent Record

"Floyd Landis' sleepy, scientific arbitration hearing morphed into a pulp-fiction blockbuster Thursday, replete with revelations of sexual abuse, allegations of threatening phone calls and even a Donald Trump-style firing.

It came courtesy of Landis' fellow American Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, who disclosed he had been sexually abused as a child and received a call Wednesday from Landis' manager who threatened to reveal the secret if LeMond showed up to testify.

Shortly after LeMond dropped those bombshells, the manager, Will Geoghegan, walked up to LeMond, apologized and admitted he made the call, LeMond said. Which led to 'You're fired' _ the message Landis attorney Maurice Suh gave to Geoghegan while they were still standing in the hearing room."

Busted, you cheater!

Basso quits after new dope allegations - Sport - theage.com.au

Basso quits after new dope allegations - Sport - theage.com.au:






"THE future of cycling star and Tour de France favourite Ivan Basso is hanging by a thread after his team, Discovery Channel, announced it had parted company with the Italian.
Basso, one of dozens implicated in the Operation Puerto doping affair, was suspended last week after the Italian Olympic Committee called on him to this week answer doping charges.
Basso, 29, initially had been cleared by the committee, which said there was not enough evidence to sanction him. Discovery said then it stood by the Giro d'Italia winner, who was to lead the team's bid to win the Tour de France."

Tour de France director Prudhomme praises Discovery team for suspending Basso - International Herald Tribune

"Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has praised the Discovery Channel cycling team for suspending its top rider, Ivan Basso, after the Italian Olympic Committee reopened its investigation into a Spanish doping scandal.
Giro d'Italia champion Basso was barred from riding for Discovery on Tuesday after the Italian committee summoned him to a doping hearing May 2 on charges of having used or attempted to use a banned substance or method.
Discovery decided to sideline 2005 Tour runner-up Basso, who signed a two-year contract in November, upon learning of the renewed investigation.
'It is a responsible decision on behalf of Discovery Channel,' Prudhomme told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. 'Everything we have learned in these last days goes in the right direction.'"

Landis Defends Self Against Doping Report

"Tour de France champion Floyd Landis went on the defensive Tuesday against the French lab that conducted follow-up tests on his backup urine samples and reportedly found traces of synthetic testosterone.
'If it's going to be objective, the least you could do is send it to a lab that doesn't have motivation to confirm their work in the first place,' Landis said on CBS' Early Show.
He said the report on the Web site of French newspaper L'Equipe on Monday was yet another result of unethical maneuvers engineered by those who want him stripped of the Tour title."

"American cyclist Floyd Landis brought his aggressive campaign against a French lab report saying he tested positive for an abnormal level of synthetic testosterone in the 2006 Tour de France to Scottsdale on Saturday night.

A crowd of 70 paid $35 a person to listen to Dr. Arnie Baker and view a slide show pointing out what Baker called numerous flaws in the French lab, LNND, testing process and interpretation."

tour de france - Google Image Search

Tour de France - Google Image Search

"Former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich insisted Sunday that he is above reproach despite blood bags seized in a Spanish doping scandal having been proven to be his by German prosecutors.
DNA tests on blood seized in the offices of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes last year have proven that the samples are Ullrich's, say Bonn prosecutors, who are investigating the rider for possible fraud."

YouTube - Maria Sharapova -Canon

Maria Sharapova: Canon

Radio New Zealand News : Latest Sport : 200704040628 : Tour of France champion linked to blood doping

Radio New Zealand News: Tour of France champion linked to blood doping: "A DNA sample taken from Germany's former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich has been matched to blood bags seized in last year's Spanish anti-doping investigation.
Ullrich, who announced his retirement last month, has always denied doping, but he was withdrawn from last year's Tour of France when he was linked with the Spanish investigation.
Ullrich agreed on February to give a DNA sample and the state prosecutor's office in Bonn has confirmed the analysis had established the connection with blood seized in last year's raids."

Lance Armstrong, 7 times Tour de France Champion to go on with new challenge - Speed-Skating.net - your news in all speed

Lance Armstrong, 7 times Tour de France Champion to go on with new challenge - Speed-Skating.net - your news in all speed:



"In an interview yesterday, Lance Armstrong stated he has a new challenge in mind: “I have done some speed skating lately with my friend Chad Hedrick, and I really love it. I don’t know how far I can go, but this new challenge is really driving me.”

Chad Hedrick says Armstong can have great success if he starts training: “Lance could win the world allround championships in 2-3 years. He has an enormous potential as an athlete. Of course, he would need hard work, but anything is possible.”

Even if Armstrong is no longer at the age many of these skaters when they started, many think he can do great things in speed skating, but to be honest, the switch from cycling to speed skating is not as easy as the one from inline like his friend Hedrick."

Inside Bay Area - Landis struggles against obstacles

Inside Bay Area: Landis struggles against obstacles



"Physicians for Floyd Landis, the disputed winner of the 2006 Tour de France, don't need to worry that the world-class athlete will push himself too hard just six months after his hip surgery.
"It's a self-solving problem," said Landis, speaking at an athletic training center here on Friday evening. "The time I spend with all this crazy stuff prevents me from riding anywhere near enough to be in shape."

The cyclist was referring to charges by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that he used performance-enhancing drugs during the Tour de France competition in July, following positive results from a test taken during the race. Landis, who is technically still the winner, is challenging those charges. A hearing to determine if he'll retain the title begins on May 14."

Tour De France Countdown (from News Shopper)

"KENT County Council (KCC) yesterday launched the 100-day countdown to the Tour de France coming to the county.
The Go Cycle Kent campaign will showcase the county as a top two-wheeled destination.
It aims to persuade residents of all ages to enjoy the freedom and fun of safe cycling.
The Tour de France comes to Kent on Sunday July 8.
It is hoped the excitement and interest generated by the event will inspire even more people to get out and about safely on their bikes.
The campaign was launched at County Hall, Maidstone, by Councillor Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet member for regeneration."

Tour De France Countdown (from News Shopper)

"KENT County Council (KCC) yesterday launched the 100-day countdown to the Tour de France coming to the county.
The Go Cycle Kent campaign will showcase the county as a top two-wheeled destination.
It aims to persuade residents of all ages to enjoy the freedom and fun of safe cycling.
The Tour de France comes to Kent on Sunday July 8.
It is hoped the excitement and interest generated by the event will inspire even more people to get out and about safely on their bikes.
The campaign was launched at County Hall, Maidstone, by Councillor Roger Gough, KCC Cabinet member for regeneration."