Landis visits Spanish race, insists he's innocent

USADA expected to offer recommendation in case this week

Bernat Armangue / AP

Former Phonak rider Floyd Landis shakes hands with a photographer before the start of the 21th stage and last day of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday. Landis said that he was in the Spanish capital to greet his friends and to plan his defense against doping accusations.

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updated 3:29 p.m. ET Sept. 17, 2006

MADRID, Spain - Floyd Landis attended the final stage of Spanish Vuelta on Sunday to support his former teammates, and again insisted he is innocent of doping.

He tested positive for elevated testosterone after winning this summer’s Tour de France and was fired by his team, Phonak. The tour no longer considers him the champion.

Landis also conferred with his lawyers in Madrid. His attorney sent a letter to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last week asking that doping charges be dismissed, saying the positive finding on the backup sample came from a sample number not assigned to Landis.

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“The Tour’s doping tests are full of irregularities,” Landis said in the sports daily Marca. “I’m innocent and I think my lawyers are going to be able to prove it, though they’ve had lots of difficulties gathering information.

“I have come to talk with my lawyers and also to say goodbye to my colleagues and helpers in Phonak, given the fact that after the Tour I hardly had time to do so.”

The USADA’s review board is to issue a recommendation on Landis’ case in the next week. If sanctions are imposed, Landis is expected to appeal and ask for a public arbitration hearing.

Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan won the Spanish Vuelta, the last major tour of the European cycling season. Four-time champion Roberto Heras was banned after testing positive in last year’s event.