Related News
Landis invite irks organizers
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ORGANIZERS of the road cycling world championships in Melbourne have slammed a decision to invite disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis to speak at a pre-event conference on doping in the sport.
Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after a positive drug test, would join legal experts, scientists and academics at the Pathways for Pro Cycling conference at Deakin University on September 27-28 ahead of the September 29-October 3 world championships. The world championships organizing committee said it had withdrawn its support for the conference and had asked organizers to drop the invitation.
"Certainly the organizing committee thought it would be a relevant adjunct to the championships, but ... for him to stand on his soapbox and continue on is not something we can be party to in any way, shape or form," David Culbert, a spokesman for the committee, said.
"(We've) suggested that it might be an error of judgement to involve Floyd Landis and turn what is potentially a worthwhile debate to take the topic forward into a circus."
The 34-year-old Landis spent four years and more than US$1 million protesting his innocence before confessing to doping offences and accusing Lance Armstrong and several American riders of cheating.
"There are some who suggest that Floyd has seen the error of his ways in raising the issues he believes need to be raised and there's a way to do that," said Culbert. "Some may suggest the way that Marion Jones has done that -- do the mea culpa, say how sorry you are and work to try to redeem yourself -- is the way to do that."
Jones had her Olympic medals stripped and spent time in jail for lying to federal investigators. "Then there's another way of doing that and that's to stand on the soapbox and sling mud at anyone who might be within distance," added Culbert.
Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after a positive drug test, would join legal experts, scientists and academics at the Pathways for Pro Cycling conference at Deakin University on September 27-28 ahead of the September 29-October 3 world championships. The world championships organizing committee said it had withdrawn its support for the conference and had asked organizers to drop the invitation.
"Certainly the organizing committee thought it would be a relevant adjunct to the championships, but ... for him to stand on his soapbox and continue on is not something we can be party to in any way, shape or form," David Culbert, a spokesman for the committee, said.
"(We've) suggested that it might be an error of judgement to involve Floyd Landis and turn what is potentially a worthwhile debate to take the topic forward into a circus."
The 34-year-old Landis spent four years and more than US$1 million protesting his innocence before confessing to doping offences and accusing Lance Armstrong and several American riders of cheating.
"There are some who suggest that Floyd has seen the error of his ways in raising the issues he believes need to be raised and there's a way to do that," said Culbert. "Some may suggest the way that Marion Jones has done that -- do the mea culpa, say how sorry you are and work to try to redeem yourself -- is the way to do that."
Jones had her Olympic medals stripped and spent time in jail for lying to federal investigators. "Then there's another way of doing that and that's to stand on the soapbox and sling mud at anyone who might be within distance," added Culbert.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
