The Gloves are Off

A year ago Floyd Landis won the Tour de France. A new champion was named after the long reign of Lance Armstrong. I remember how proud I felt when I heard the US National Anthem floating along the boulevard as he stood there on the Champs Elysees his hand covering his heart. Naively I thought a new era was borne and the doping titillations that plagued Lance would be laid to rest. Of course a few days later news broke about the “worse case scenario.” Floyd was subsequently “identified” for having a high T/E ratio.

The gloves are off. The UCI President Patrick McQuaid isn’t waiting for a positive drug test or even for the tour to complete before giving his opinion of who should and shouldn’t win the tour. McQuaid has stated he would rather another younger rider win the tour rather than Michael Rasmussen. No more waiting for the final results of who crosses the line. Perhaps, McQuaid has crossed a new line.

Back on the home front, I was hoping that politics would be minimized with the timing of Floyd’s arbitration hearing ruling. However, as the time lingers on, it seems more likely that the decision will wait until after the tour completes. If the timing of the announcement can be impacted, I am back to fearing that the conclusions will also not be based on facts. But I must hang onto a fragment, a glimmer of reason that I saw during the hearing that science and logic will prevail.

What the arb?

In the arbitration hearing of USADA versus Floyd Landis held May 14 – 23, 2007 at Pepperdine University in Malibu California, Floyd invoked the first ever public hearing. The world had a chance to watch, review and analyze the expert testimony proffered. Now the decision is in the hands of the three arbitrators, Patrice Brunet,Richard H. Mc Laren, and Christopher L. Campbell . And let’s not forget the panel appointed expert from the WADA accredited laboratory in Rome, Dr. Francesco Botre.

After the openness of the hearing in May the world is waiting and watching for the decision to be pronounced. I am left with many questions, are the arbitrators and science advisor meeting in the same location? Are they communicating via phone, fax or email? Are the conversations between all members or does two arbitrators make it a quorum?

I am waiting for the words. I am waiting for the words that will start the healing process. I suppose healing for one side, is enraging for the other side. As people on both sides of the Atlantic have already condemned Floyd based on nothing more than sloppy lab work and the sanctity of following a process.

Here’s the scoreboard so far:

Against: 3 - 0

Against: 2 - 1 TBV, Finger Food

For: 2 - 1

For: 3 - 0 Bill Hue, Moi

Waiting

The Belgian Sports press thought that the Floyd Landis Arbitration verdict would be announced on Friday July 06, 2007. The assumptions are 1) that the transcripts were completed on June 11, 2007, 2) the findings of fact completed by the lawyers of USADA and Landis on June 25, 2007. The Arbitration panel then has 10 working days to complete the award.

Question is, did the Belgians factor in the National Holiday of July 4th? Perhaps late Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.

Bill Hue has the low down on the arbitration rules that would change the timing. Peloton Jim is keeping the Pope Watch going with apropos pictures.