The New York Times is reporting today that after four years of denials cyclist Floyd Landis has admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs throughout his career. The 2006 Tour de France winner, who was later stripped of that title, reportedly sent e-mails to top cycling officials in the U.S. and Europe detailing his use of the drugs, while also naming other top U.S. riders who he says were doping as well.
The officials who spoke to the Times didn’t with to have their names published, but did say that Landis admitted that he began using the performance enhancing drugs back in 2002, when he joined the U.S. Postal Service Team led by Lance Armstrong. Reportedly, Landis says that not only was Lance doping, but so were George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, and David Zabriskie. Essentially the top names in U.S. cycling.
Landis, who now races with the OUCH-Bahati Team, says that he is hoping to clear his conscience, and no longer wants to be a part of the problem, but says he has no documentation to prove his claims agains the other riders. He did, however, share the details of his own drug use saying that he commonly used EPO, which works to increase the white blood cells to aid with endurance, testosterone, human growth hormone and blood transfusions. He also claims that he spent $90,000 a year on performance enhancing drugs so he could continue to compete in the sport.
What motivations Landis has for coming forward at this time is unclear, but he is sharing his knowledge about the drugs, and who distributes them, with officials both in and out of the sport. Personally, anything that helps to clean up the sport of cycling is a good thing from my perspective, but year after year, it seems like it is a losing battle as more stories like this one come out, and top names in the sport ended up testing positive.
One thing is for sure however, Landis is likely to have a chilly reception in any peloton he rides in in the near future.
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Any bets on any other prominent cycling names being "outed"?
Perhaps a name rhyming with:
Chance Charmsong?
Surely he should be banned from cycling?
And regarding Armstrong; come on, it was always a possibility and i wouldn't be at all surprised!
Those rumors have definitely circulated for years, and Landis adds fuel to the fire here. They were teammates for a number of years.
I have contended that if Lance ever tested positive, it would be a gigantic story here in the States, not just because he won 7 Tours, but because he has built himself up as a presence outside of cycling. He's incredibly well viewed by the general public here, and has been named "Sportsman of the Year" multiple times.
I also think that when you consider the state of the sport, it is highly unlikely he could compete at that level without doping, sadly enough. 🙁
My personal opinion/"gut feeling" is that most of the prominent riders are taking "something", and probably a "cocktail" of several "somethings".
As for "Chance Charmsong", he's no Saint, but he does inspire a lot of people, and he does do a lot of good charity work. I think it highly unlikely that someone can recover from cancer the way he did, without using some sort of performance enhancing drugs, and then go on to win the Tour several times. It's possible – but very unlikely, bordering on superhuman! But in the absence of any evidence, we have to presume him innocent.
I don't think cycling is any different than any other sport – football, baseball, track and field, "pro" wrestling, etc. I think it's one of those "dirty secrets" that everyone suspects is happening, but "wink wink" we all turn our heads and deny it's there. Then when someone is caught, all of a sudden – à la Captain Renault in Casablanca – we're all "Shocked! Shocked!" that someone is actually taking performance enhancing drugs!
It's too bad that Landis fell from grace the way he did. NY Times Magazine had a fawning article on him several years ago, and I was rooting for him. But in the back of my mind, with all of Landis' health problems, something didn't seem right about him and his "meteoric rise". Oh well….
I'm with you on all your points. I have to admit, I'm a fan of Armstrong, and I'm with you, innocent until proven guilty, but the sport just has sooo many problems, and it seems impossible to clean it up.
I was cheering for Landis as well, and his recovery was nothing short of remarkable when he came back in the TdF in 2006. He looked spent, and out of it, and then the next day he puts in the ride of his life. Something just wasn't right.
I'm still cheering for him to do well though. I hope he finds peace and can continue to ride.
I just got a post up about my thoughts on this at Just Northwest. http://bit.ly/bN8qwb
I just find it hard to believe a guy that has lied about this time and time again. And it also seems like a pretty convenient time to suddenly "come clean" with both the Giro and the Tour of Cali in full swing. Why do it now other than to take the focus off the other riders in the sport?
I guess I'm still just upset because I had rooted for the guy and was amazed at what he had done in that Tour de France. Only to find out it was all because of cheating.
What bothers me about Landis is that he took thousands of dollars from people to fight for his innocence, all along knowing he wasn't. If I was one of those who gave to his cause, I would be demanding my money back. To me that makes him the lowest of the lowest who have admitted to doping.
Casey: I just finished reading your post right be your left a comment. I pretty much agree with you, although I will say it sounds like he sent these e-mails several weeks back, and they're just now breaking as the Tour of Cali and Giro are going on. Very bad timing no matter how you look at it.
Mini Me: Yep, I completely agree. He took people's money to pay for his defense, even though he knew all along that he was guilty. That makes him complete scum in my book.
WTH…Floyd Landis has admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs throughout his career.
He should be KICKED out and should ensure he's out of it for lifetime..
I only care about doping cause it is killing young people. I believe the cockta was usual and young people don't have the best judgment to refuse their managers.
We ban the ones we catch based on science not finger pointing.
I also believe life bans should be in place and if two riders are caught on a team–managers and medical personnel must be banned.
I don't disbelieve Floyd, it doesn't matter if those listed tested clean. Or if the substances were not yet banned. tested clean
This is really adventurer blog. As I am also adventurer freak. I like this blog.
"Life bans should be in place and if two riders are caught on a team–managers and medical personnel must be banned." Very True!!