The Lance Armstrong Doping Debate Continues

Some claim the allegations of Armstrong's drug use are just a witch-hunt against him, others claim he did it. So far all the investigations against Armstrong have come up clean, yet some still refuse to believe Armstrong.

This year's Tour de France was also blanketed by controversy and accusations. After the infamous Stage 17, current champion Floyd Landis was also accused of having unusually high levels of testosterone in his blood system. Landis was fired from Team Phonak and many wanted his title stripped. Months have passed and the subject is still as fresh and emotional as it was the day after Stage 17.

In a new and risky approach, Landis is taking his case public. He is making town hall type appearances and taking his case to the Internet for the world to see, comment on and debate. With new developments on the case almost daily Landis is waiting for May 14 when a three-member panel at Perperdine University School of Law will review his case.

He is trying to keep the dialogue going regarding his case, but at the same time putting all his cards on the table. Regardless of the arbitration outcome, Landis' goal is to preserve as much of his reputation as he can and continue on with his cycling career.

One of the biggest problems seems to be the supposed accuracy of these tests. Landis denies strongly to this day he did nothing wrong. By putting his case out for the world to see, the perceived inaccuracies in these tests may be as big an argument for Landis as the supposed evidence itself. Before another circus like this occurs, perhaps the way these tests are conducted needs to be revisited. There are too many varying opinions for these tests to have much credibility anymore. Maybe Landis did cheat. Maybe Armstrong did too. The ability to definitively say one way or another is the root of this whole debate.

Bonnie DeSimone quoted Landis in an ESPN.com article as saying, "As painful as it was and as unlike me as it was, the context is not like it ever has been in the past. I don't think it'll have any effect on the arbitrators, but one thing I don't want anybody to say is that Floyd was trying to cover something up."