Landis, 30, has been in the world’s spotlight for more than two weeks — first as the winner of the grueling three-week bicycle race, then as allegations surfaced that a urine sample taken during the race had an elevated level of testosterone.

The results of a second urine sample test were released Saturday morning, confirming a high level of testosterone and the presence of testosterone from a synthetic source.

Cycling officials are now saying Landis is no longer being considered the winner of the race, although he has not been officially stripped of the title.

This morning’s interview on ABC-TV was the first of six appearances Landis was scheduled to make in a media blitz today.

Landis, speaking this morning to Robin Roberts, accused the Union Cycliste Internationle, professional bicycling’s world governing body, of not following its own protocols for the release of information.

“I was forced in the press to make comments before I got educated on this,” Landis said of the testosterone testing.

In an earlier interview with USA Today, Landis went so far as to to say: “There’s some kind of agenda there. I just don’t know what it is.”

In the days after news broke of the first sample test, several possible reasons were floated for the elevated level of the hormone.

Landis or his supporters attributed the testosterone to medication he was taking for a degenerative hip, alcohol he consumed the night before the sample was taken, even the anger he felt from performing so poorly the day before.

Mostly, Landis has contended that his body has an unusually high level of the naturally produced substance.

Speaking from his home in Murrieta, Calif., with his wife, Amber, at his side, Landis emphasized that the tests are subjective. Without being specific, he contended they have been misrepresented in the press.

He said this morning that he could not explain the test results.

“There are multiple ways that it could have happened. One way that it did not happen is that I did not add it myself,” Landis said of the testosterone, specifically addressing the charge that synthetic hormone had been detected in his urine sample.

Landis said he and his attorneys are preparing his defense to the charges.

The UCI announced Saturday that it would ask USA Cycling to open disciplinary proceedings against Landis. The sport’s national governing body announced Sunday that it would forward the case to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for review. The agency is responsible for anti-doping cases for Olympic-level American athletes.

A ruling from the agency could strip Landis of the Tour title, and impose a two-year ban on him participating in professional cycling. On Saturday, in the wake of the second test results, he was fired from his Swiss-based Phonak team.

Landis could appeal any ruling to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, in a process that could take six to eight months.

Landis would be the first Tour winner in the race’s 103-year history to be stripped of his title.

In today’s “Good Morning America” interview, Landis repeated that he never used any performance enhancing drugs during his career.

He offered a spirited defense in the USA Today interview.

“I was tested eight times at the Tour; four times before that stage and three times after, including three blood tests. Only one came back positive. Nobody in their right mind would take testosterone just once; it doesn’t work that way,” Landis told the newspaper.

According to Landis’ personal Web site, he was also slated to appear today on NBC’s “Today Show,” “CBS LIVE,” “CNN LIVE News,” ESPN News and Fox News.

Roberts this morning asked Landis if he believes he will clear his name and race again.

“If I had to choose between the two, clearing my name is the most important one,” Landis replied.

Talkback on LancasterOnline

Welcome to the new TalkBack on LancasterOnline. Please use the comment box below to share your opinion on this article. If you would prefer to use the previous TalkBack forums instead, please use this link.

blog comments powered by Disqus