The Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.

Doth he protest... because he's innocent?
Hello,
As with most readers, I am sick and tired of reading about Floyd Landisdefending his "non-use" of a performance-enhancing drug. He has nowbeen found guilty on every complaint yet he still relentlessly defendshimself. So, on one hand, I just want to say to Floyd, "enough's enough!Then there's the other hand. His determination to clear his namejust may be due to the truth that he may really be innocent. Aftera random drug test on a random number of high school kids at my daughter'shigh school last year, my daughter's results came back positive fora number of drugs. To say the least, we were all stunned with the newsas well as the school's administration and faculty who knew my daughterwell and never dreamed that she was "dirty" in any way.My daughter was also devastated and swore to her innocence. Severalattempts to demand the school to re-do her test went unnoticed.Finally, I agreed to pay for an extensive drug test (utilizing hair samples)with another outside testing agency and the school said they wouldhonor the results. The test results came back completely negative and mydaughter was fully reinstated and the school offered an apology.It was later learned that this initial drug-testing company had a longlist of errors and was no longer in the drug-testing business. So,mistakes do happen. I hope that is the case with Landis. If not, afterthis final appeal, Floyd Landis needs to leave it alone, accept the punishmentand move on...so we can, as well.
Ron Bridges
Redding, CaliforniaMistakes happen
Dear Velo,
In response to Robert Rasner's letter (see "Lab criticisms seema bit overblown" in Monday'sMailbag), I just wanted to point out that lab errors may not happenevery day but they definitely do happen. I had a blood sample takenas a routine check-up two years ago and got a called a few weeks laterbecause my hematocrit was 28. I'm 43 years of age and my crit has alwaysbeen between 47-51. I told the doctor it was an obvious error on someone'spart. Additional blood work was done and sure enough it was 48.I raced for a short time as a pro duathlete in the early 90's and cringedat the thought of some lab mixing up my blood work. I could not think ofanything more horrifying than getting accused of something I did not do.Most cyclists getting caught are indeed guilty but I'm sure that a selectfew are getting dealt a devastating blow by being accused of doping whenin reality they are clean.
Bob Schumacher
San Diego, CaliforniaThe standard
Dear VeloNews,
As a disclaimer: I am not proclaiming that Floyd is innocent, but Ido hope he sticks with his appeal to CAS.WADA should be held to a high standard if it is going to be a credibleorganization. The WADA-accredited lab’s mishandling of this test shouldwarrant a lot scrutiny. Purely from a scientific perspective these mistakesneed to be highlighted so that WADA will have incentive to make sure theirlabs operate within their own guidelines.Labs in hospitals have to follow protocols and published guidelinesto maintain credibility let us expect the same from the World Anti-DopingAgency.
Graham Garber
West Hartford, ConnecticutDo what's right
Dear Mr. Landis,
If, indeed, you are innocent, go for it! Buona fortuna!
Nolan Winkler
Hillsboro, New MexicoGiving the jersey to clean hands?
Dear Velo,
How ironic that ASO seems so happy to crown Oscar Pereiro the winnerof the 2006 Tour. Just this past spring Pereiro was denying thathe was “Urko”from Operación Puerto and stating that he would quit professionalcycling if asked for a DNA sample. Which gets us to the logical breakdown:If you are not involved in Puerto, why not authorize yourDNA to be tested (in a lab of your choice even) against the suspected bloodbag, thereby clearing your name forever? Why not do this? Probablybecause you have something to hide.Interesting how easy it was for Ullrich’s Puerto blood to get DNA testedcompared to how difficult it seems to get Valverde’s or Pereiro’s bloodtested. Seems like the Spanish are not playing by the same rules.I must also say I am disgusted that there remains no resolution to thePuerto matter.
Best regards,
Erik Sass
Minneapolis, MinnesotaMaybe we can't handle the truth
Dear Velo,
In an effort to save cycling from future embarrassment, I propose tothe international cycling organizations and governing bodies that they declare a drug-test-free July.
Dejan Smaic
Longmont, ColoradoThe Mailbag is a regular department on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have read in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to webletters@insideinc.com. Please include your full name, hometown and state or nation. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month. The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and should not be viewed as reflecting the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.