The Finish Line Draws Near

In five weeks, on May 14th, Floyd Landis and his defense team will finally get to make their case to the three people who count: The arbitration panel that will decide whether they believe he doped at the 2006 Tour de France. For the first time in a doping case, the hearings will be open to the public, and perhaps even broadcast live.

Landis and his defense team have been traveling around the country, on what’s been dubbed the Tour of Innocence, presenting their case to the public. Or, more to the point, part of their case. As Arnie Baker has said, he has a total of 60 arguments, of which he presents four in public. He’s holding his stronger arguments in reserve, and he or other scientific experts, will present those arguments at the hearings, to be held at Pepperdine University.

In the next ten days, Landis will make five appearances, one in Phoenix, two in Austin, Texas, followed by an appearance in Richardson, Texas and then an appearance in Atlanta, Georgia. You can get more information about these appearances on the Events page of the Floyd Fairness Fund web site, or you can find links to more information at Trust But Verify. As of this writing, the only other appearance, on May 6th, will be held in Dallas, Texas.

Over the weekend, the Sacramento Bee (free registration required) published an extensive interview with Landis, in which he tells freelance journalist James Raia:

Getting mad doesn’t serve any purpose at this point. I have to stay focused on finding a solution. I have to show them I’m not going to take this. I’m not going away, ever. That’s why I won the Tour — because I wouldn’t quit. And I won’t quit until this is over. It’s not in my nature to just get irrationally angry about things. I am angry about it, but I’m focused on what needs to be solved. I don’t get angry at the press for asking a question I don’t like. I don’t get angry when it’s not the source of what caused me to get angry in the first place. And first of all, I did win the Tour, and I did win it fairly. I’m proud of it, and I have nothing to be afraid of and nothing to hide from.

And while Landis is determined, at the end of the interview he acknowledges that the outcome is far from certain, saying,

I don’t believe I will have an objective hearing. I don’t feel I’m going to have a chance to have a fair trial. And I need to have the world see that I didn’t do it. And as long as everyone knows I didn’t do it, they can convict me if they like. But everyone needs to see it.

If you’re interested in the Landis case and it’s outcome, there is still time to make a difference. First, if you haven’t already done so, take the time to learn as much as you can about the situation. Download and read Arnie Baker’s latest slide show. Go to the Get Involved page of the FFF web site. Write letters to your members of Congress, and to the members of Congress who have oversight of the US Anti-Doping Agency. Or, as my member of Congress suggested (while punting on doing anything himself, but that’s a story for another time), write letters to USADA, telling them that as a taxpayer-funded organization, you expect fairness as a part of their process. Make a donation to the FFF, if you haven’t been too hammered by the taxman (or if you’ll be getting a bit back, how about earmarking part of it to the Landis defense?).

While it may not guarantee the outcome, keeping the spotlight shining squarely on USADA and the sham of a process that they employ in anti-doping cases is the most effective way to bring about change. And with the full glare of the spotlight upon them, the arbitrators are more likely to be fair towards Landis in their judgment than they would if this was all done behind closed doors.

If we turn up the heat, there’s a better chance for a positive outcome. In the last miles of a hard race, the winners keep up the intensity and start to pour it on, they don’t coast to victory. If you watched Stage 17, you didn’t see Floyd Landis coast over the line to an easy victory, you saw him push the whole way. The same is true today. If you want to help make a difference, now’s the time to pitch in and help the Landis defense push even harder.

Meanwhile, In Germany …

Jan Ullrich has posted commentary on his web site (machine translation, pretty rough), which CyclingNews mentioned briefly today.

“I have a clean conscience,” Ullrich said. “In my entire career I have never cheated or used anybody, and I can’t admit to a failure that doesn’t exist. I am not afraid of any trial, any prosecuting attorney or any federation.”

Ullrich is maintaining his innocence, but says he will not comment publicly on the “many unanswered questions” until the case is closed. Ullrich also tells his fans:

“I will lead my life in the way I think is right and nobody will be able to change that. Life is a challenge that has to be faced, and I am ready for it.”

Life certainly is a challenge. But, as I’ve said before, I think Jan is wrong on his approach. He needs to address the allegations directly and forcefully if he wants the German public or his fans to believe in his innocence. To do otherwise just allows his name to be smeared worse than it already has. Or maybe he and his team think it can’t possibly get any worse. I wouldn’t bet on that, however.

Hat tip to “just bitch slap me please” for pointing out the CyclingNews story.