Posted at 6:40 a.m., Monday, April 30, 2007
French lab asks for outside check on Landis testing
Associated Press
PARIS — France's anti-doping agency has asked outside experts to verify that its lab correctly handled tests that pointed to suspected cheating by Tour de France champion Floyd Landis, the agency's chief said today.Landis' camp launched new accusations of wrongdoing against the French lab on Sunday, saying it had mishandled and erased computer files involving doping tests during a crucial stage in Landis' 2006 Tour win.
Pierre Bordry, director of the French Anti-Doping Agency, did not respond to the accusations. He said he was awaiting a regular review, conducted every six months by an independent French agency, on the lab's software and analysis procedures.
He also said that, even before Landis' latest criticism, the lab had asked for a separate outside review of how the lab handled that case.
"What interests me is the positive B sample from August," Bordry said. "I have asked experts outside the affair to tell me if the analyses of this sample were conducted correctly."
That B sample is the backup of the original sample showing that Landis tested positive for testosterone after he won the 17th stage of the Tour.
"These results will be difficult to contest whatever their conclusion. I will forward the results to Landis' lawyers when I get them," Bordry said.
The 31-year-old American cyclist has an arbitration hearing May 14 in California, where he is expected to question the practices of the French lab.
If doping accusations against him are upheld, he faces a two-year ban from competition. He also would be the first rider in the 104-year history of the Tour to be stripped of the title. He already has agreed not to compete in this year's event while the case is pending.
