Floyd Landis, the Lancaster County native who won the 2006 Tour de France then had the title stripped from him, sounded a defiant tone Monday, but there may be little he can do about the international court ruling against him.
The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Landis' suspension from professional bicycle racing on Monday. Landis had appealed to the three-member panel after an American Arbitration Association panel banned him from professional bicycle races for two years in September.
Arbiters affirmed laboratory findings that Landis used performance-enhancing testosterone in his come-from-behind win of the three-week race.
Landis has always maintained his innocence.
"Clearly this was a foregone conclusion," Landis told the Los Angeles Times Monday after the ruling was released. "I refuse to accept that the world works this way. I don't buy it."
In a widely reported prepared statement, Landis said: "I am looking into my legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed."
Yet, Landis' options seem limited.
The ruling ended Landis' appeal within the sports arbitration process. He could now turn to the courts.
He could appeal the CAS decision to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, which has jurisdiction because the CAS is based in Switzerland. In only one case has a CAS ruling been questioned by the Swiss federal court. In that case, involving an Argentine tennis player, the case was sent back to the CAS by the tribunal and the CAS affirmed its earlier decision, ESPN reported.
Landis could also take his case to an American court, but that effort also seems unlikely to succeed, The Associated Press reported.
Just last week, sprinter Justin Gatlin tried to fight a CAS decision regarding his eligibility for the upcoming Olympics in American court, but judges ruled they had no jurisdiction in the case.
Landis' suspension is due to be lifted Jan. 30. At that time, the 32-year-old may return to racing.
But the Farmersville native was fighting the legal battle to restore his tarnished reputation and to bring about reform in an anti-doping system that he sees as unfair to athletes.
"They will never get to the end of how much I can take," Landis told ESPN.com Monday.
"I'm not happy that I'm the person who has to take this, but I would never allow myself to be treated this way and ever give up."
Landis, now living in Murrieta, Calif., could not be reached directly for comment. His parents, in Farmersville, also did not immediately return a call for comment this morning.
Staff writer Bernard Harris can be reached at bharris@LNPnews.com or 481-6022.
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