Landis gets chance to tell his story

By: TOM SHERIDAN - Staff Writer | Sunday, February 25, 2007 10:41 PM PST ∞

SAN PEDRO ---- Maybe it was just a bit of irony that cyclist Floyd Landis took his case against doping allegations to a cramped bar in this port city ---- directly across the street from the San Pedro Courthouse of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Then again, Landis has been on trial in the court of public opinion ever since a suspicious drug test result brought into question his victory in last summer's Tour de France.

"That absolutely is the case," Landis said Sunday night during a town hall-style meeting where he shared the dais with his spokesman, Michael Henson; his lawyer, Howard Jacobs, and Dr. Arnie Baker, who is the medical point man on his defense team. "And it's been the case since the beginning when there were no expert witnesses, and PR people and lawyers."

About 50 people, many of them supporters, showed up at the San Pedro Brewing Company for the first Southern California appearance that Landis, a resident of Murrieta, has made in his effort to take his case to the people.

Similar events have been held in New York, Washington, Sacramento and San Jose.

Henson said future appearances are scheduled for Chicago, San Diego and Lancaster, Pa., Landis' hometown.

"This is about putting Floyd in front of his natural constituency and having him tell his story, without mediation of a third party," Henson said. "As well as having people hear first-hand what we regard as some of the stronger parts of our case. The bottom line ... it was not a positive test."

Using slides, Dr. Baker launched into a vigorous attack on the methods and practices of the French-based anti-doping laboratory, LNDD, which processed Landis' urine sample that allegedly contained an exceptionally high level of testosterone.

That sample was taken after Landis pulled off what the Associated Press called a "once-in-a-lifetime" ride in the 17th stage of the Tour. On that 124-mile leg, in the Tour's final Alpine stage, Landis finished nearly six minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, and shaved over seven minutes off the lead of Spain's Oscar Pereiro.

Dr. Baker ticked off a laundry list of problems with the lab from clerical errors to sample contamination to a failure to follow quality control criteria.

"Arnie does a very good job of putting into words that are understandable, a very complex set of circumstances and tests," Landis said. "And it's something I can't do, and very few of us can, because we don't understand the particular parts of the case that are difficult to understand."

The French anti-doping agency recently set aside a decision on Landis' future. He faces a two-year ban from racing if he's found guilty in exchange for a commitment that Landis would not ride in this year's Tour de France.

Landis, who had hip-replacement surgery in September, has put his cycling career on hold. He said the demands of his case ---- he has a hearing with the United States Anti-Doping Agency in May ---- prevent him from training.

"All my energy and time are focused on this case," Landis said.

As for how he pulled off that stunning ride in Stage 17, Landis said it was due to tactical reasons, not chemical ones.

"It really was a tactical decision on our part to do what I did that day," Landis said. "The day before I had lost quite a bit of time. And it's pretty well known that the day after your worst day of the race is often your best day. That's just the way it is. You stay focused and you are determined to make up for it.

"So really my only opportunity to win the Tour was to try a risky breakaway in the beginning. And I didn't really think I was going to be the only guy to go. I thought at least one person would counter and come with me. ... Everyone else decided they just weren't going to gamble.

"It really wasn't a superhuman ride. It was tactics."

During the presentation Landis looked on guard, but he smiled easily and occasionally dropped one liners.

When he was asked about the institutions lined up against him, he said, "These people should definitely be in an institution."

It drew a loud laugh from the audience. Landis, though, would likely be the first to say, this is no laughing matter.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, email addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.