In his first public response since a second test result was announced Saturday morning supporting initial findings, Landis appeared on four major network morning shows to dispute the findings, which showed an elevated testosterone level and the existence of synthetic testosterone in his system while competing in the Tour de France.

Two weeks after reaching pro bicycling's pinnacle in Paris, Landis' Tour title is now in jeopardy after a July 20 urine sample twice tested positive for synthetic traces of the performance-enhancing hormone. He has since been fired from his Swiss-based Phonak team.

Still, the Farmersville native insists he was "clearly the strongest guy there" -- without a chemical boost.

"What you saw at the Tour de France was a result of 15 years of hard work," Landis told NBC's Matt Lauer from his home in southern California.

While many local supporters stand behind the 1994 Conestoga Valley High School graduate, much of the national media remain unconvinced.

Commentaries on numerous media outlets have presumed Landis the latest cheat in a recent wave of doping allegations that have challenged the integrity of professional sports.

Nine days ago, U.S. track athlete Justin Gatlin -- an Olympic 100-meter-dash champion -- disclosed he tested positive for a high testosterone reading after an April race.

A cloud of steroid accusations in Major League Baseball has blemished the game's credibility.

"The general public is used to reading about this," said Mike Farrington, owner of Ephrata's Green Mountain Cyclery, sponsor of a teenage Landis' first bike team. "Each athlete needs to have an opportunity to defend himself. Floyd's at that stage now."

Landis, 30, could become the first cyclist to be stripped of the Tour de France title in the event's 103-year history.

"Sure, it's easy to believe a sports figure is cheating with the recent Barry Bonds (accusations) and all," said Eric Gebhard, Landis' longtime friend who also graduated from CV in 1994.

Two days removed from a French lab's damaging revelation, Landis pleaded his innocence but cited no clear cause for the elevated testosterone level or the lab's finding of synthetic testosterone.

"There are multiple reasons why this (positive result) could have happened," Landis, who lost more than eight minutes while bonking in Stage 16 only to return a day later with a comeback ride for the ages, told Lauer. "One (scenario) that did not happen is that I added this myself.

"A lot of things came together on the day after my bad day which made it look like some sort of superhuman effort," Landis said. "But, if you watch the rest of the race ... I was clearly the strongest guy there from the beginning."

Proving his innocence will be a lengthy and difficult task. Proceedings involving the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and potential appeals could continue into next year.

"I don't think anything will happen quickly, and it shouldn't. It should be investigated," said Farrington, who spoke on the telephone with an "upbeat" Landis Friday and Saturday. "Floyd (said) it best: 'The race isn't over yet.'"‚"

Landis Monday claimed the barrage of recent explanations for the high level of testosterone -- which varied from alcohol consumption to thyroid medication -- were the result of his own lack of familiarity with the test. He blasted the World Anti-Doping Agency and cycling's governing body for prematurely releasing the test results.

"I've been given the same amount of time as the press and public to learn how these tests work," Landis said.

Landis appeared with his wife, Amber, on NBC's "Today" show. Asked if she had confronted her husband face-to-face about the allegations, Amber said, "I don't have to do that. I know what kind of person he is. I know how he thinks. I believe him 100 percent."

Many local supporters have expressed the same support. They believe Landis -- a relentless worker who claims to have ridden more than 12,000 miles in preparation for the Tour de France -- would never take the easy road to his childhood dream.

"Until he comes to me and says, 'I've been lying all along,' I won't believe it," Gebhard said.

Rich Ruoff, director of Lancaster-based RedRoseRaces.com, said Landis is "stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"We are local fans, so we might be a little biased, but in my mind (the test) just isn't definitive," Ruoff said. "If these allegations are false, you hate to see a good man ruined."

Said Farrington, "Locally, the support for Floyd has been fabulous. People have been stopping in and leaving messages on our answering machine."

Farrington is among a group of county residents being shoved into the national spotlight to defend Landis. He was greeted at his shop Saturday morning by a swarm of media, including MSNBC, which arrived at the front door at 4 a.m.

"I had my own press conference Saturday morning. I own a bike shop, for Pete's sake," Farrington said. "There are a lot of ordinary people being put under very unordinary circumstances."

Floyd's parents have been virtually chased from their North Farmersville Road home. Friends of the family have been questioned nearly to the point of harassment.

Their inquisitors remain in search of an answer or explanation to authenticate American cycling's newest Iron Man.

"It's an extremely unfortunate thing," Farrington said. "Hopefully, in the long run, we will know what is going on here." blog comments powered by Disqus