'Landis must provide proof'

Published>Sat, May 22 10 11:47 AM

The the IOC and World Anti-Doping Agency said on Friday that if Floyd Landis has proof of doping by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, he should back it up with concrete evidence.

"He has to bring proof that this is true," IOC president Jacques Rogge said. "These are accusations that need to be corroborated by proof.You can't condemn without proof," Rogge added.

WADA president John Fahey said if there is any substance to allegations, either the US Anti-Doping Agency or International Cycling Union should intervene.

"If he has evidence, he should make that evidence available to the USADA or UCI and I'm sure if there is any substance to that evidence, either of those bodies would act," Fahey said.

Rogge and Fahey spoke after Landis, in a series of e-mails confessed to years of doping after having previously denied cheating.

The American, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title and served a two-year ban for doping, also alleged that Armstrong not only joined him in doping but taught others how to beat the system.

No credibility

Armstrong has denied the claims. "We have nothing to hide," Armstrong said at an impromptu news conference before the fifth stage of the Tour of California. "Credibility, Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago."

Rogge expressed doubts about Landis' claim that Armstrong and longtime coach Johan Bruyneel paid former UCI president Hein Verbruggen to cover up a test after Armstrong purportedly tested positive. The UCI denied changing or concealing a positive test result, and Bruyneel said, "I absolutely deny everything (Landis) said."

In two e-mails, Landis admitted of doping and said Armstrong's positive EPO test was in 2002, around the time he won the Tour de Suisse. Armstrong won it in 2001 and did not compete in 2002. "We're a little confused. At the end of the day, he pointed the finger at everybody still involved in cycling," Armstrong said.

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