Warrant issued for disgraced U.S. cyclist

PARIS (AP)—A French judge has issued an international arrest warrant for U.S. cyclist Floyd Landis in connection with a case of data hacking at a doping laboratory, France’s anti-doping chief said Monday.

Pierre Bordry told The Associated Press that French judge Thomas Cassuto is seeking to question Landis about computer hacking dating back to September 2006 at the Chatenay-Malabry lab. Months earlier, the laboratory near Paris had uncovered abnormally elevated testosterone levels in Landis’ samples collected in the run-up to his 2006 Tour de France victory.

Landis was stripped of his title and banned for two years.

The American cyclist unsuccessfully challenged the drug test results before an arbitration hearing in California—claiming that computer files were mishandled and erased.

“Landis used the hacked files for his defense, that’s how we discovered the whole scheme,” Bordry said. “He wanted to show that the lab made mistakes in the handling of the tests.” Landis did not immediately respond to a phone call and e-mail seeking comment.

The French judge, who is based in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, issued the warrant Jan. 28 because Landis did not respond to a summons in November, Bordry said. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office confirmed the warrant had been issued.

“Apparently the judge traced the case back to the beginning,” Bordry said. “I can’t say I’m happy with this news because I would have preferred there was no Landis case.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-doping-landis&prov=ap&type=lgns

Are we this lost? really?

First of all, France has jurisdiction here. France isn't responsible for arresting and prosecuting our war criminals. We are.

But in principle we should be doing both, not one or the other. Just because the scale of a criminal issue is far more grave than civil ones doesn't mean civil issues - even issues of cheating in sports - should just be ignored.

I had a slight hope a year ago, now I have none at all.

but sports stars, movie stars, and hot white chicks lead the news.

Yes, we can do both. But gee golly - we only seem to do the one, for some reason.

The overwhelming majority of corporate and war criminals come from good ol USA.

It's arguably worse here. But, I follow world news and there are plenty everywhere. We don't hear about it, not here in the land of the free. When I travel out of the country I hear loads about it. I follow it here on the internet. I've followed it since becoming aware of East Timor and yes, the USA has it's tentacles in many things.

The thing I mean to assert is that sports cheaters is a non-story when compared to the many serious issues that are ignored here.

Consider that there are entire channels devoted to nothing but sports, there really isn't anything equivalent for current wars.

She's a big Tour de France fan, and refers to Floyd Landis as "the evil elf."

I understand that the judge wants Landis to appear in his courtroom, and has issued a warrant to make that happen. What I'm not clear on is the why of it all. "Landis used the hacked files for his defense," according to Pierre Bordry. But it's not clear if the judge thinks that Landis hacked the files, or presented those files in his own defense as being hacked. That is, by demonstrating that the computer files had been compromised, Landis was looking to have them excluded as tainted evidence.

Is the judge trying to find out who hacked the files, or is he trying to pin the hacking on Landis? Can anyone make this a little clearer?

of French laboratory test results that had been altered, and used as a basis for the UCI (International Cycling Federation) to ban him for two years. His records had the wrong rider ID on them and had results which (apparently) been falsified. The judge is alleging that to get those documents Landis must have hacked the lab's computers.

In his book "False Positive" Landis makes a fairly convincing case that French authorities had it in for him (there is well-documented evidence that the French anti-doping agency is biased against American riders). I followed his case closely from the start, and went from being 95% certain he had doped to about 60-40.

I remember at the time Landis went from eight minutes behind to re-take the lead in one mountain stage how astounded the bike racing world was. Words like "superhuman" and "herculean" were used, and I seem to recall (though I wouldn't swear to it) that Landis was not known as a particularly strong climber before that stage. I know that the officials of the international cycling federations have been upset about Lance Armstrong for years, convinced that nobody could do what he did without cheating. But they were never able to pin a positive drug test on him, and maybe they made Landis, another American, the repository for their anger.

I don't know what the solution might be. It seems that the science of doping is an endless game of cat-and-mouse with contestants finding new and innovative ways to use performance-enhancing drugs while officials try to catch up with them. Maybe run parallel circuits, one without testing (so anyone can use anything they want) and one with testing. Fortunately, I never have to worry about anyone thinking I'm on any juice. Top speeds of 15 mph will do that.

Not one case of doping at last year's Tour, and far less on the circuit in general.

Here's a fascinating article by a writer who spent a year trying banned performance-enhancing drugs:

http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/200311/200311_drug_test_1.html

Landis and his ilk of juiced up meatheaded riders are killing the sport. These douchebags are ruining it for everyone.

I would highly recommend reading Landis's book first. He makes a pretty strong case.

I really like cycling but reading about it sounds kind of boring to be honest. This guy really should just retire.

He should retire, his return has been pretty pathetic.

Shocked, in fact.

Landis has already been disgraced, banned, and stripped of his Tour win. (each of these things I agree with) That's probably enough punishment without jail time.