Doctor Arnie Baker, retired medical doctor and friend of Floyd Landis, gave a slideshow presentation Friday evening in Tucson, Arizona in regards to the elevated Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio found in the American's urine as part of Tour de France testing. Baker's presentation was on the eve of El Tour de Tucson, a race both Baker and Landis are slated to compete in.
Baker contended that, after reviewing the analysis of the case, the former Phonak rider did not have a positive test at all. The doctor attempted to make his case to the near-100 cyclist gathered in the Tucson Convention Center via several internal documents that were leaked from the Châtenay-Malabry anti-doping laboratory (LNDD) and other documents from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) given to him from Landis' lawyer, Howard Jacobs.
"There is no basis for a positive test in the first place," commented Baker to AP. "How it got this far in the first place, I have no idea. But I've looked at the test, and to me, it's appalling."
Baker said he has known Landis since 1997 and had not been approached by his friend to present the slideshow. "He hasn't asked me to do any of this and I'm doing it pro bono," noted Baker after his presentation. Baker claimed to have had hatched the idea after the two spoke at the funeral for Landis' father-in-law, who committed suicide shortly after the Tour de France.
Earlier in the week, the LNDD reported its computers had been sabotaged for the sake of writing emails to other doping authorities, promoting the innocence of Landis. Baker confirmed that the LNDD documents used in Friday's presentation were authentic but he denied claims that he had hacked into the lab's computer to get the documents.
"I am not the hacker," quipped Baker, who said he receive the documents from several sources. "These documents have been out there for more than a month."
The presentation by Baker has no bearing on Landis' actual hearing and it is not known if all the facts were made available to Baker for him to reach his conclusions. Landis and Jacobs will be able to present their case when heard in an USADA arbitration hearing, expected for early next year and to be open to the public. If found guilty, Landis will face a minimum two-year ban from cycling and be stripped of his Tour de France victory.
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
