May 20/10 10:31 am - Landis Accuses Armstrong, Leipheimer & Hincapie of Doping

Posted by Editoress on 05/20/10
 

For the past couple of days, rumours have been floating around the Tour of California that Floyd Landis has sent statements to cycling officials detailing doping use by himself and former teammates Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie. Landis is expected to hold a press conference in Los Angeles on Saturday to discuss these allegations.

The Wall Street Journal has published an extremely detailed account of the situation - Here.

Briefly, Landis says that during his time at U.S. Postal, he was introduced to doping by Armstrong and team director Johan Bruyneel, and progressed from testosterone patches to EPO, human growth hormone and steriods, plus blood doping. He also claims that when he went to the Phonak team, the owner (Andy Rihs) continued to fund the program. Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping.

Armstrong, Bruyneel and Leipheimer have not responded to requests for comment by the Wall Street Journal, Hincapie and Rihs have both denied allegations.

The UCI has published the following statement:

The International Cycling Union has learned of the declarations made by Mr Floyd Landis and published in the Wall Street Journal.

The UCI regrets that Mr Landis has publicly accused individuals without allowing sufficient time for the relevant US authorities to investigate.

An impartial investigation is a fundamental right, as Mr Landis will understand having contested, for two years, the evidence of his breach of the Anti-Doping Rules in 2006.

The UCI will leave it to the individuals accused by Mr Landis to take the position they see fit with regards to this issue.

We will see what impact this has on fans at the Tour of California today.