Triple Crankset: Last Call

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Last Call

Floyd Landis' appeal to the Court of Arbitration on Sport (CAS) literally fell on deaf ears. The court summarily dismissed his case by a 3-0 ruling.

From the Huffington Post:

In its 58-page decision, the panel at sports' highest court said the French lab that analyzed Landis' positive test results followed international standards, disagreeing with one of Landis' key accusations.

Much like the arbitration panel that ruled on this case before, CAS conceded the lab used some "less than ideal laboratory practices, but not lies, fraud, forgery or cover-ups," the way the Landis camp had alleged.

In the end, the panel saved its harshest criticism for the 32-year-old cyclist from Murrieta, Calif. CAS said his lawyers tried to muddle the evidence and embarrass the French lab, and continued on that course even after the evidence was shown not to exist.

The strategy continued all the way through the closing briefs.

"The Panel has found no evidence at all to sustain any of these serious allegations," the decision read. "Moreover, the Panel is surprised that such serious allegations should be pursued in the closing brief when it must have been clear at the end of the hearing that there was no evidential basis from expert testimony or otherwise to support them."

Though a saddened Landis has signaled that he may still pursue some other legal avenues, this ruling was effectively his "last call."

The sport of cycling has rung the bell, turned off the light, and asked Landis to leave.

Although his 2-year suspension ends in January of 2009, Landis' future in cycling will most likely resemble that of Oscar Sevilla, Tyler Hamilton, or Santiago Botero, which is to say that he won't be given the opportunity to race in the most prestigious races ever again.

There will be no story of vindication at the Tour de France.

The 32-year old will still be able to race, but after this soul-sucking ordeal will he want to.

Bonnie D. Ford (ESPN.com) - Landis May Not Race Again, But He's Not Done Fighting
Cyclingnews - Suh Disappointed With Landis Outcome; CAS delivers final blow to Landis legal challenge
Velonews - Landis Loses CAS Appeal

Triple Crankset Coverage/Reaction During The Landis Ordeal

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Last Call

Floyd Landis' appeal to the Court of Arbitration on Sport (CAS) literally fell on deaf ears. The court summarily dismissed his case by a 3-0 ruling.

From the Huffington Post:

In its 58-page decision, the panel at sports' highest court said the French lab that analyzed Landis' positive test results followed international standards, disagreeing with one of Landis' key accusations.

Much like the arbitration panel that ruled on this case before, CAS conceded the lab used some "less than ideal laboratory practices, but not lies, fraud, forgery or cover-ups," the way the Landis camp had alleged.

In the end, the panel saved its harshest criticism for the 32-year-old cyclist from Murrieta, Calif. CAS said his lawyers tried to muddle the evidence and embarrass the French lab, and continued on that course even after the evidence was shown not to exist.

The strategy continued all the way through the closing briefs.

"The Panel has found no evidence at all to sustain any of these serious allegations," the decision read. "Moreover, the Panel is surprised that such serious allegations should be pursued in the closing brief when it must have been clear at the end of the hearing that there was no evidential basis from expert testimony or otherwise to support them."