World cycling's governing body tonight said it ‘categorically rejects’ fresh claims from Floyd Landis and revealed that one of his accusations against Lance Armstrong related to an event Armstrong did not even take part in.
Landis, who today admitting doping during his career and made allegations against several other riders, had claimed that seven-times Tour de France winner Armstrong struck a deal to conceal a positive test during the 2002 Tour of Switzerland.
However, Armstrong did not race in the event, and the UCI slammed Landis, expressing ‘outrage’ at the allegation.
‘The International Cycling Union (UCI) categorically rejects accusations made by Mr Floyd Landis, in particular the allegation that a positive doping result by Lance Armstrong during the 2002 Tour of Switzerland was concealed after an agreement was reached between the American rider, his directeur sportif [sporting director] Mr Johan Bruyneel and the former UCI president, Mr Hein Verbruggen,’ a statement from the UCI said.
‘Deeply shocked by the gravity of this statement, which considerably impinges on the honour of all persons who have dedicated themselves to the fight against doping, the UCI wishes to clearly state that it has never changed or concealed a positive test result.
‘The accusation by Mr Floyd Landis, guilty himself of a breach of the anti-doping rules in 2006, is thus completely unfounded and the UCI can only express its outrage at this new attempt to harm the image of cycling.
‘Our sport has long paid a heavy price for the fraudulent behaviour of individuals such as Floyd Landis and we cannot accept the principles governing our work being challenged in terms of their ethics and honesty by a person who has not hesitated to breach such principles.
‘By way of information, the UCI would like to point out that Lance Armstrong did not participate in the 2002 Tour of Switzerland.
‘Finally, the UCI wishes to make clear that it will undertake all necessary measures to defend its honour as well as the honour of all its executives who have been unfairly accused by Mr Floyd Landis.’
The statement came only an hour after Armstrong himself had dismissed Landis' claims about him.
‘I have nothing to hide,’ Armstrong said at a press conference ahead of the fifth stage of the Tour of California.
‘I think history speaks for itself here.’
Prior to today, Landis had maintained a long and expensive campaign to try to clear his name after he was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title following a positive test for synthetic testosterone.
But in changing tack, the 34-year-old accused several fellow riders in a series of emails to cycling and anti-doping officials detailing his own doping history.
Armstrong said he had been expecting as much.
‘I'd say I am a little surprised but I am not,’ he said.
He sounded unconcerned, adding: ‘It's our word against his word. I like our word. We like our credibility.
‘Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago.’
Landis said that his own use of performance-improving substances dates back to 2002 when he rode for the US Postal Service team and continued when he moved to Phonak in 2005.
Landis' claims will now be investigated by both the United States and world anti-doping agencies.
Landis said of his decision to come clean after previously denying having used drugs: ‘I want to clear my conscience. I don't want to be part of the problem any more.
‘With the benefit of hindsight, and a somewhat different perspective, I made some misjudgements. And, of course, I can sit here and say all day long, 'If I could do it again I'd do something different', but I just don't have that choice.
‘I don't feel guilty at all about having doped. I did what I did because that's what we did and it was a choice I had to make after 10 years or 12 years of hard work to get there, and that was a decision I had to make to make the next step.
‘My choices were, do it and see if I can win, or don't do it and I tell people, 'I just don't want to do that', and I decided to do it.’
He has claimed his decision to speak out now was partly because WADA's statute of limitations for doping offences of eight years meant his evidence would shortly become unusable.
Landis told espn.com: ‘Now we've come to the point where the statute of limitations on the things I know is going to run out or start to run out next month. If I don't say something now, then it's pointless to ever say it.’
Landis still denies using testosterone during the 2006 Tour de France.
‘There must be some other explanation, whether it was done wrong or I don't know what,’ he said.
‘The problem I have with even bothering to argue it is I have used testosterone in the past and I have used it in other Tours, and it's going to sound kind of foolish to say I didn't.’
His accusations will now be tested by both the USADA and the WADA, who both vowed to investigate.
‘WADA is aware of the serious allegations made by Mr Landis,’ WADA president John Fahey said in a statement.
‘We are very interested in learning more about this matter and we will liaise with the United States Anti-Doping Agency and any other authorities with appropriate jurisdiction to get to the heart of the issues raised. WADA looks forward to these further investigations and enquiries by those responsible.’
Prior to tonight's statement, the UCI had earlier criticised Landis for making his accusations public without allowing for an investigation first.
