Monday Roundup

News
Landis via email from Michael Henson:

Murietta, Ca., February 5, 2007 ­ 2006 Tour de France champion Floyd Landis today issued the following statement:

"I agree with the recent comments made by a member of the pro peloton who expressed his concern about doping and about depending on professional cycling to make a living. This is especially true if the fundamental errors in my case are an indication of how flawed the anti-doping system can be. Racing clean does not guarantee that there will be no faulty lab results or false accusations of positive results. I have been clean my entire career ­ a fact supported by my perfect record of negative tests other than the one flawed result ­ and passed seven other tests at the 2006 Tour de France, including before and after Stage 17. I won four major stage races in 2006, and won them all fair and square.

Instead of repeatedly seeking media coverage to point out that he is racing clean, he should worry about the anti-doping organizations' current ineffective and unfair systems, which Œcatch¹ clean riders like him right along with the cheaters. When an allegedly positive result is leaked to the media, a career of racing and winning clean gets lost among condemnations from people that are too lazy to inform themselves, or too scared to stand up for what is right. Fortunately for me, there are far more thoughtful and thorough people taking a serious look at the facts of my case, and stepping up for the cause of fairness."

This would appear to be directed at Mr. Wiggins.

PezCycling News briefly discusses yesterday's Wiggins comments, and is chock full of other (non-Landis) news.

CNN.com posts a Reuters piece (no direct Landis content) that nations, such as the United States, who do not adhere to the new anti-doping convention may not be allowed to take part in many international sporting events:

Countries that fail to sign up to a new convention on doping in sport might be banned in future from taking part in major sporting events. A United Nations' convention on doping came into force at the start of the month, backed by some 41 governments who have promised to throw their legislative and investigative might against the use of banned substances by sportsmen and women.Some nations, such as the United States, have not yet adhered to the document and French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour suggested eventual tough measures for non-adherents. "All countries must adopt this code and put it into practice," Lamour told Reuters on the sidelines of the first conference of signatory nations held at the headquarters of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

An AP article in the IHT reports a renewed call for increases in governmental funding for WADA:

The World Anti-Doping Agency is counting on increased governmental backing, a revision of banned substances and more funding to fight the use of banned drugs in sport.

WADA vice chairman Jean-Francois Lamour, director general David Howman and UNESCO director-general Koichiro Matsuura spoke Monday at the opening of a conference of countries which have signed up to an international convention against doping.

Cyclingnews posts the Wiggins comments on Landis posted here yesterday. Also see the comments from Jorg Jaksche on OP, some of his comments sound strangely familiar.

Velonews notes Hamilton's return this week to the European peloton with this observation:

Sadly, Hamilton's last day as a pro serves as a painful reminder of just what the sport has suffered through in recent years. That day's stage was won by Roberto Heras (stripped of the 2005 Vuelta title and suspended for EPO), who knocked Floyd Landis (facing the loss of the 2006 Tour de France title on a testosterone charge) out of the leader's jersey. Finishing second that day was Santiago Perez (suspended for blood doping), who finished ahead of third-placed Francisco Mancebo (named in Operación Puerto and ejected from the 2006 Tour).

Blogs
BikeBlog is excited that Landis will be at the Brooklyn Brewery, 70 North 11th St. Brookyln, NY (right near the L train Stop) from 7-10pm on Feb 7th.

Steroid Nation looks at the scheduling, and agrees that time pressure seems to be shifting in Landis' favor, away from the ADAs and the ASO. In a comment, Ferren, who did the Daily Peloton interview with Tygart, suggests the current delay is Landis' lawyers bleeding him, not USADA.

Dugard attended the Endurance Sports Awards in San Diego this Saturday and was very moved:

There was Floyd Landis, just before the banquet, trying to come up with an impromptu speech... Landis received a heartfelt and lusty standing ovation. The Morzine video was shown, giving me goosebumps and making me crazy-eager to get back to the Tour. Landis is a quiet man, and even a little shy, so his speech was short. Basically, he gave a Theodore Roosevelt "In The Arena" speech, showing solidarity with the competitors in the crowd and closing with "screw the cynics," which was nipped off at the end by still more applause.

Desi's Ironman was also at the awards.

Rant writes about the passion of Mr Wiggins, and how he may have inserted his foot into his mouth.

Seth over at Floyd Landis, Champion writes glowingly about truth and beer.

Pommi writes that he could care less about what happened in the Superbowl, and was glad that the Power Camp was appreciated by all who attended.

Unskilled and Mediocre apologizes for his late start on this but says 2006 needs rehab, and that FL was just trying to help with sky high gas prices.

Belgium Knee Warmers revises it's post of the Ventura/Landis/Lim "gesture" photo.


Thought for the Day

"Whenever someone asks me to define love, I usually think for a minute, then I spin around and pin the guy's arm behind his back. NOW who's asking the questions? -jh-

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