By Shane Stokes
Charging that there is a clear vested interest at stake, Floyd Landis and his defence team have outlined the precise reasons why they are dissatisfied with the news that French lab LNDD in Chatenay Malabry will be doing the tests on his B samples.
Listing their objections in a press release circulated late on Thursday, they say that the principle of sample blinding will be disregarded, due to the fact that the lab will know whose urine they are testing. In turn, they say that this raises several areas of concern.
According to the Landis camp, the testing "will take place at a laboratory with a documented history of ignorance to the scientific rules and protocols designed to protect athletes; with full awareness of USADA's desire to obtain a positive result from additional specimens; and with knowledge that a second positive result would validate their own flawed results from Landis' stage 17 sample."
Claiming that there is a lack of objectivity with this scenario, Landis has asked for the 'B' samples to be split so that he and his defence team can have them tested in another lab.
"If USADA refuses to test the samples at their own laboratory at UCLA, then in order to protect my rights and to preserve evidence that may be valuable to my defence - evidence that USADA is willing to destroy in order to attain a result that they desire - I will request half of the samples so that we can have them tested in a lab that is beyond reproach."
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
