A couple of dates with destiny
Posted February 8th, 2007 in The Desk, Dope
So a couple of important dates have been finalised for Floyd Landis. The French anti-doping agency will begin it’s deliberations shortly and the USADA has firmed a commencement date for May 14th.
It’s funny but but looking back we should have seen that this has always been in the hands of the French - their race, their lab, their media, their rules, their sporting politics - The opinions of American media and fanboy conspiricists have no real currency there.
So even though this case is based on finely parsed definitions of what the results actually mean, atmospherics are also the order of the day.
On one level a USADA sanction is the most damaging, but immediately I think it is the French who can make or break Landis……..or the USADA.
Even if the USADA was to exonerate Landis he’d still be left with half a career in the event of a French sanction. A pro bike racer of his stature and Grand Tour ability banned from racing in France has no effective value to a team. Can anyone see the French doping authorities backing down if that scenario eventuates?
A ruling in Landis’ favour by the AFLD and ultimately the USADA will have no case left, there would be outrage should it continue and then rule against him - in that event it might be entirely possible to see the case collapsing before May 14th. Of course it goes without saying that a French ruling against Landis would probably strengthen the hand of the USADA or at the very least give them some comfort.
So while May 14th may appear to loom large, tomorrow is an equally important day for Landis.
technorati tags: cycling, bicycles, doping
What others have to say…
I’m frustrated like everyone else is TBV, tired of it actually.
Yes we do largely agree even though we’re probably coming at it from different philosophical directions.
I should mention that you and Rant have been very important to the discourse on this,
I listen very carefully to what you guys are saying and respect you POV greatly and learn from it in order to inform myself more completely on this very complex matter.
As an aside, I still think it’s up to the riders though. I’ve seen no real leadership, only dissembling and half truths.
[…] Judging by what Bordry said, it’s easy to agree with Spinopsys, which observes, It’s funny but but looking back we should have seen that this has always been in the hands of the French - their race, their lab, their media, their rules, their sporting politics […]
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I think we actually agree on this stuff, Phil, we means maybe both of us are mellowing in some way. Tomorrow will be verrrry interesting.
cheers,
TBV