France to reopen Landis case
France to reopen Landis case
By Agence France Presse
Filed: October 17, 2007
The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) on Wednesday said it intends to pursue doping charges against Floyd Landis, purportedly to close a legal loophole which could allow him to compete in the Tour de France while technically banned.
Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping and suspended for two years by the UCI from any competitions the governing body sanctions.
But the situation could arise whereby Landis could compete again if the Tour de France took place outside of the auspices of the UCI, a real possibility given that the Tour is currently battling with the governing body.
“The AFLD has decided to examine the case of Floyd Landis and we have notified his lawyers,” AFLD president Pierre Bordry confirmed on Wednesday. “Landis was sanctioned for two years by the UCI. From that point he is barred from all competitions organized by the UCI or affiliated federations.
“But this is not the case for competitions organized in France outside this structure. It is for this reason that we are going to investigate the case.”
Were the Landis case not pursued by AFLD, Bordry said a judicial loophole might potentially allow him to compete. Landis will be called before the AFLD as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Bordry said that should the Tour de France decide to withdraw from the UCI calendar the AFLD would be able to carry out the necessary controls.
“We have made the ASO (Tour de France organizers) aware that we will be there, that we have lots of ideas and are ready to assume our responsibilities.”
The AFLD in February adjourned its Landis hearing until after the case was heard by an American arbitration panel on condition that the cyclist did not race in this year’s Tour de France.
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