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USADA gag order may be relaxed

By Agence France Presse
Published: May. 1, 2007

The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering relaxing its regulations to give the US Anti-Doping Agency a stronger voice in the fight against drug abuse in sports.

Dick Pound, chairman of WADA, said Monday a proposed amendment to the World Anti-Doping Code's gag rule would make it easier for USADA to respond publicly when it believes athletes are making false or misleading statements about an ongoing probe.

"If something is completely nonsense where someone is challenging evidence by saying there is no reliable test for X and there is, then it would be nice to be able to say the test is reliable," Pound said on Monday.

Under the current regulations, USADA will not comment on cases unless the athlete under investigation waives the right to privacy.

On Sunday, American cycling hero Floyd Landis accused USADA of using "criminal" tactics in their a case against Landis, who is fighting to keep his 2006 Tour de France title after a positive drug test.

Pound said the proposed changes to the World Anti-Doping Code is on the agenda for the third World Conference on Doping in Sport which runs from November 15-17 in Madrid, Spain.

"The consultation process started last fall," Pound said from his home in Montreal. "We are going to decide whether or not to amend the code. If there is stuff being made public that is misinformation then you can decide to respond to it so the public and athletes are not confused."

USADA, which investigates and imposes punishments on drug cheats, declined to respond Monday to the latest allegations by Landis.

Landis said Sunday he was considering an appeal to the US Department of Justice to investigate the use of government funds in the adjudication of his anti-doping proceedings.

"I have every confidence that they can determine if any misuse of federal funds and any resulting criminal activity has taken place on the part of USADA in my case," he said.

A hearing before the arbitration panel is scheduled for May 14 in Los Angeles.

The 31-year-old Landis could be stripped of his Tour de France victory and given a two-year ban.

"We tried to make it transparent and hold the agency accountable," Landis' spokesman Michael Henson said. "We have to reserve judgment until we see what type of restrictions they decide to lift."

Landis won the world's biggest race in dramatic fashion last year, rebounding from a spectacular collapse on stage 16 to cap a 130 kilometer breakaway with victory on stage 17. It was after stage 17 that one sample from the American cyclist tested positive for a skewed testosterone/epitestosterone level. A follow-up carbon-isotope-ratio test later indicated the sample included synthetic (exogenous) testosterone. Landis, however, has blamed USADA and the French national anti-doping laboratory for mishandling tests and violating basic procedures.

"It is my impression that USADA's goal is to secure a conviction by any means available," Landis said on Sunday. "Their behavior is nothing short of criminal."

Landis also faces a French government probe but that has been delayed until after the inquiry following his promise not to race in France this year, ending any chance to defend his title.