Landaluze decision boosts Landis case

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to clear Inigo Landaluze of doping because of testing errors has handed Tour de France winner Floyd Landis hope of clearing his name.

The 31-year-old American, winner of the first Tour de France of the post-Lance Armstrong era, has claimed his positive test for excessive levels of testosterone after stage 17 of the race were flawed.

Landaluze was cleared after testing irregularities were discovered at the same laboratory after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) admitted the same person analysed both A and B samples, which violates standard practice.

“With respect to the issue related to the analysis procedure conducted by the laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry, the Panel has dismissed all arguments raised by the athlete, except one,” said a CAS statement.

“It has been indeed established that the person who conducted the analysis of the B sample was also involved in analysis of the A sample, thus in violation of the international standard applicable to the accredited laboratories.

“The Panel considered that the violation of this technical direction was likely to affect the results of the analyses. The Panel has considered that the non-compliance with this standard constituted a procedural flaw serious enough to cause the invalidation of the anti-doping test.

“Nevertheless, the arbitrators have emphasised that the staff of the laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry had acted in good faith and that the overlap of the different analysis operations performed by the staff was due to a heavy workload in the laboratory.

“The arbitrators have also specified that even though Inigo Landaluce benefited from this flawed procedure to be acquitted, the CAS decision does not constitute a declaration of his innocence.”

Landis’ test had shown levels of testosterone 11 times higher than the average man but he has continually denied using any illegal performance-enhancing substances.

The charges against him are not due to be heard until well into 2007 and Landis has used the timeto cast as much doubt on the failed test as possible.

The delay is partly due to an attempt by the cyclist’s lawyer, Howard Jacobs, to have the charges dropped on the basis that the results of Landis’ test do not satisfy the criteria for a positive test.

A 16-page submission – among the documents on Landis’ website – claims “grossly inconsistent” testosterone and epitestosterone levels in his ‘A’ sample and mismatched code numbers on his ‘B’ sample.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has rejected the submission and an independent arbitration panel will in January or February examine the move which could also be heard by the CAS, all before Landis faces a disciplinary hearing.

Amaury Sports Organisation, the organisers of the Tour de France, say they have no reason to question the test results and have have already said they no longer consider Landis the 2006 Tour winner.