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Pound asks French to delay Landis inquiry
World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound said Wednesday that he has asked the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) to postpone its investigation into Floyd Landis until the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency ends its inquiry.
Landis tested positive for a skewed testosterone-epitestosterone ratio following Stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France and has been fighting to clear his name ever since.
"In December we asked the French agency to suspend its inquiry into Floyd Landis until the end of the American anti-doping procedure," said WADA’s Pound. "They seem ready to do that, although without renouncing their judicial rights."
Indeed, although agreeing to a temporary suspension, AFLD is due to convene on February 8 to consider Landis's case. And it is in a hurry to have the case brought to a conclusion.
"The test happened in July; we're almost in February," a spokesman for the agency said. "As far as we know, USADA's next meeting is scheduled for March and we don't know how long it (the Landis inquiry) will take.
"WADA has made a request, but we will apply the law."
Landis faces a possible two-year ban if he is found guilty of doping. If he is cleared, he could begin racing again this season.
