Highlights

Landis goes to the Internet for arguement

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-13 09:02

Embattled Tour de France winner Floyd Landis made public on Thursday documents he says will prove his innocence against allegations of doping during cycling's most celebrated race.

The 30-year-old Landis tested positive for excessive amounts of the male sex hormone testosterone following the decisive 17th stage of this year's Tour de France.

Arnie Baker, a long-time coach and adviser to Landis and a retired physician, laid out a presentation on the Internet that argues that criteria for a positive test were not met.

He said Landis's test samples were mis-labeled, a specimen was contaminated and the testing was unreliable.

"We have identified dozens of problems with Floyd Landis's allegedly positive doping test," Baker said on the American cyclist's Web site, www.floydlandis.com.

Landis, who grew up in rural Pennsylvania but now lives in San Diego, Calif., will make his case during a hearing by the American Arbitration Association early next year in an effort to contest potential sanctions.

Should he fail, he will be stripped of the Tour title and banned for two years.

Baker alleged the laboratory involved knew it was Landis's sample they were testing -- an infraction of rules that require anonymity -- and disregarded a host of other World Anti-Doping Agency standards and procedures.

While awaiting a hearing on the charges, Landis underwent hip replacement surgery which he hopes will allow him to defend his Tour de France title in 2007.

Landis rode this year's Tour knowing he would need a hip replacement because of a painful condition called avascular necrosis. He contracted the condition after breaking his hip four years ago.