In college I raced bicycles. For several years Floyd Landis was a domestique helping Lance Armstrong to several Tour victories, until he got his own chance to lead a team. In the 2006 Tour he staged a stunning comeback on stage 17, pedaling alone over 4 mountain passes. Then tests revealed synthetic testosterone in his system.
Landis protested his positive drug test for 4 years — in TV interviews, in a book, in court, disparaging sports organizations at every turn. He took nearly a million dollars in donations from fans to fund his battle, all while insisting on innocence. Only he turned out not to be innocent. He now admits he took not only testosterone, but HGH and EPO. He lied in public, in court, in writing, and face to face to fans.
Don't let him steal the reputation of other cyclists he is now disparaging, including Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer. He has negative credibility.
--MR
