One day after the lawyers and defense experts of Floyd Landis have severely criticised the way in which the testing of the rider's B samples from the Tour de France was carried out in French laboratory LNDD in Chatenay-Malabry, the French Anti-Doping Agency has replied to the accusations.
In a press conference following the news that Landis' seven B samples also showed traces of artificial testosterone, the Landis camp had argued that their observers "were not allowed to see critical parts of the analysis", whilst "USADA's expert - not just their expert, but their lawyer - was present at LNDD."
Pierre Brodry, president of the French Anti-Doping Agency which supervises the work of the LNDD, replied that the lab was merely putting into practise what had been agreed beforehand. "Preliminary agreements had been concluded between the two parties (USADA and Landis) to make sure that no single party would be present inside the lab without the other one being present, too," he told L'Equipe. "By refusing the representatives of the rider the entrance on Monday, with USADA being absent, too, the lab director, professor Jacques de Ceaurritz merely respected this agreement. And that is normal."
The representatives of USADA were reported to have left the laboratory on Saturday evening.
Cyclingnews' coverage of the Floyd Landis case
September 28, 2008 - Landis takes case to US federal court
September 10, 2008 - Landis signing with current Health Net-Maxxis team for 2009
July 1, 2008 - CAS delivers final blow to Landis legal challenge
June 30, 2008 - Landis loses final appeal
June 28, 2008 - Landis decision due Monday
March 12, 2008 - Landis' judgment day nears
October 21, 2007 - Landis files appeal with CAS
October 18, 2007 - AFLD takes another look at Landis case
Thursday, October 11 - Landis continues fight, appeals to CAS
Saturday, September 22 - UCI officially names Pereiro 2006 Tour champion, Landis case raises issues
Friday, September 21 - Landis' appeal denied, two year suspension levied
Cyclingnews' complete coverage of the Floyd Landis case.
