> Landis has been officially dethroned

Safin

Landis loses doping appeal
Arbitrators uphold positive test from 2006 Tour de France

Its officially the end of the day for 2006 Tour De France Winner Floyd Landis. The arbitration panel considering his doping case has decided and voted 2-1 to uphold the verdict that Landis used performance enhancing drugs to win the mountain stage which proved critical in his winning the 2006 edition of the prestigious Tour De France cycling race.

"Today's ruling is a victory for all clean athletes and everyone who values fair and honest competition," United States Anti-Doping Agency general counsel Travis Tygart told the Associated Press.

"This ruling is a blow to athletes and cyclists everywhere," he said in a statement released by his attorneys. "For the panel to find in favor of USADA when, with respect to so many issues, USADA did not manage to prove even the most basic parts of their case, shows that this system is fundamentally flawed. I am innocent, and we proved I am innocent." Floyd Landis

Oscar Pereiro is now officially the 2006 champion.

Meanwhile Caisse D'Epargne has lashed out at the delay over the Landis case.
"For us to get that first place now and not 14 months ago is irreparable on an emotional level."
"For the sponsor, as well, we've lost 95 percent of the publicity we would have had if Oscar had been named winner at the right time," team manager Eusebio Unzue said.

Meanwhile Landis Landis has a month to file a final appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an international arbitration agency based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that hears doping and contract disputes in Olympic and other multinational sports.

Landis loses doping appeal -- baltimoresun.com
Pereiro's boss says team damaged by delay in Landis case | Breaking news | Guardian Unlimited Sport

Nikhil

Sad.... really really sad.

You can never find the truth.
I just hope in this case, Justice has been served and that Landis has really used drugs. At least, that way, he'll have only himself to blame.

Safin

Landis btw gets 2 years ban also. So he can't compete next year also(if he wanted to that is)
Also this is terrible news for Vinokourov as his case his almost similar. So its game over for vino also.

The bad part is this year was an even bigger disaster. Had this judgement come out before the tour atleast other would be dopers would have known what the punishment they could have faced. Having said that it wouldn't have deterred people like Michael Rasmussen

(or Vino for that matter..

)

medpal

Its the right thing USADA done if the findings were right.

The authorities have to be extremely strict and vigilant to control this rampant things.

And to put things in perspective not a single athlete in the history of appeals against USADA have ever won. So Landis`s fate was sealed when the appeal was filed.

IMO he must opt for ban and serve out the remaining period, if he goes for CAS he will be humiliated more and more.

And if he is cheat i think he must be banned for life.

Vino and Rasmussen have dug their own grave now..

Next year with suspects out of the race and a well organised and strong team like Descovery Channel Team out the tour will be closely fought but very random and weird results will be expected.

Safin

We said the same thing last year after Landis. I doubt the doping is gonna go. Not from cycling no.
Cyclists will always think their method of doping cannot be caught.

Btw an interesting though just stuck me, has any frenchman ever been caught in doping in tour de france?

Ninja

Cyclists will always think their method of doping cannot be caught.

They should try BOOST.. It has energy boosters

even in the ad they show it helps while u are cycling..

Nikhil

Originally Posted by medpal

Its the right thing USADA done if the findings were right.

The authorities have to be extremely strict and vigilant to control this rampant things.

And to put things in perspective not a single athlete in the history of appeals against USADA have ever won. So Landis`s fate was sealed when the appeal was filed.

IMO he must opt for ban and serve out the remaining period, if he goes for CAS he will be humiliated more and more.

And if he is cheat i think he must be banned for life.

Vino and Rasmussen have dug their own grave now..

Next year with suspects out of the race and a well organised and strong team like Descovery Channel Team out the tour will be closely fought but very random and weird results will be expected.

What is CAS ?

Safin

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an international arbitration agency based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that hears doping and contract disputes in Olympic and other multinational sports.

Nikhil

Originally Posted by Safin

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an international arbitration agency based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that hears doping and contract disputes in Olympic and other multinational sports.

aaaah yes..... I know that. I just didnt remember what the acronym stood for