It’s That Time of Year Again…..
No, I am not talking about the ASO vs. UCI disputes that seem to get more intense every passing year; Although we have seen our fair share of bickering lately. What I am talking about is Floyd Landis hearing time. Round one occurred in May of last year, where the arbitrators voted 2-1 to uphold his positive doping test during the 2006 Tour de France. Floyd’s final appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will start on March 19th and last up to six days.
Unfortunately for the public, this hearing will not be open for viewing. It will be a private matter behind closed doors. Landis lost his first arbitration hearing in which the arbitrators actually struck down the original positive doping test because of testing irregularities and then upheld a follow-up test that they claimed was a stable test.
In his appeal to CAS, Landis wrote the following: “To wrongly strip a champion of his victory due to a flawed test is much worse than to have an athlete cheat his way to victory.” At least we can come to one conclusion before the hearing is completed…..Floyd is guilty of bad grammar.
Bad grammar aside, Floyd got a raw deal in the original hearing. I watched every minute of the event, and it was very clear to me that the testing was irregular in nature. The problem is that the system is stacked against the athletes. They have no rights in the legal system. The dissenting opinion shot hundreds of holes in the majority opinion, and it was quite obvious to those of us that watched the proceedings that Floyd was doomed before this whole thing even started.
Just to get in the mood of all this, I have spent twelve hours of my precious time re-watching the 2006 Tour de France all over again. What Floyd Landis did to come back was amazing, but it was not extraordinary. Doping is not the only explanation for his comeback. I think it all goes back to the field that started the race. Testosterone or no testosterone, Floyd Landis was the strongest, most disciplined rider to start that race. He has little or no chance of ever being allowed into the Tour de France ever again, and that is a shame. He, alone, was the most exciting thing to happen to cycling since the 1980’s.
Here is the solution. ASO, UCI, WADA, CAS, whatever acronym group you want to look at….they all need to put the sport first. There is too much bickering. Too many power happy people have hijacked the sport for too many years now. The leaders of the sport we love so much, are so bent out of shape over their own power that they ruin countless lives in the process. I just watched The Flying Scotsman last week, and it brought back memories of how this sport’s governing body has been utterly screwed up for years. They tried to ruin Graeme Obree’s life back then, they tried to ruin Lance Armstrong’s life in the 90’s, and now they are hell bent on ruining Floyd Landis’ life……not to mention all current riders that are being used as pawns between ASO and UCI in the current governing body conflict.
It is time for the riders to get some balls and stand up for themselves. I for one am glad that Floyd is defending himself. Guilty or not, the system screwed him over. Floyd Landis should be elected President of the Rider’s Union that needs to be formed.
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