Highlights

Lawyers 'to prove' Landis innocent

(AFP)
Updated: 2006-09-18 14:27

American Floyd Landis, who tested positive for testosterone after winning the Tour de France, said overnight he is confident of proving his innocence.

Landis was making an appearance at the final stage of the Tour of Spain and was mobbed by journalists as he watched Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov win the race's gold jersey on the final day.

The American is facing being stripped of his yellow jersey after tests showed abnormal amounts of testosterone in his body after his stunning, stage 17 victory which allowed him to relaunch his bid.

But, following efforts with his lawyers and a team of scientific experts in a bid to prove that he did not take the banned male sex hormone, he feels he can prove his case.

"The Tour's doping tests are full of irregularities," said Landis.

"I'm innocent and I think my lawyers are going to be able to prove it, though they've had lots of difficulties gathering information."

Landis' shattered Phonak team dramatically pulled out of the sport for good after his positive test result, and subsequently Landis was unable to say goodbye to his teammates.

He added: "I've come to talk with my lawyers and to also say goodbye to my teammates at Phonak because after the Tour I just didn't have time to do so."

Last week, Landis' lawyer sent a letter to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) asking that the charges be dismissed.

The letter questioned the tests carried out on his samples in a French laboratory, and claimed that the positive finding on the "B" sample came from a sample number not assigned to Landis.

USADA's review board is expected to issue a recommendation on Landis' case next week.