May 27th, 10

There are many more comments from other parties, but only those published as official press releases will be included.

May 26th - UCI: Allegations by Floyd Landis

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed that it yesterday morning requested the relevant National Federations to carry out inquiries of the accusations made by Mr Floyd Landis against their licence-holders, namely Cycling Australia (Matthew White), Royal Belgian Cycling League (Johan Bruyneel), Canadian Cycling Association (Michael Barry) and the French Cycling Federation (John Lelangue).

An enquiry has also already been opened by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) concerning all the other individuals accused by Mr Landis as these persons have US nationality (Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Jim Ochowicz and David Zabriskie).

The UCI's request is aimed at establishing, in an objective manner, whether or not events potentially constituting a breach of the Anti-Doping Rules occurred. This does not in any way imply that the UCI considers the allegations made by Mr Landis to have any basis.

May 25th. UCI: Floyd Landis's accusations: clarifications from the UCI

Due to the controversy following the statements made by Floyd Landis, the International Cycling Union wishes to stress that none of the tests revealed the presence of EPO in the samples taken from riders at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland. The UCI has all the documentation to prove this fact.

Between 2001 and 2003, only the Paris, Lausanne, Cologne, Barcelona and Madrid laboratories, commissioned by the UCI, detected the presence of EPO in the samples that had been entrusted to them for analysis. During this period, the first laboratory carried out three positive analyses for EPO, the second 18 and the three last laboratories one each. None of the samples concerned had been taken at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland.

The International Olympic Committee received a copy of all the reports for the positive analyses mentioned above. Furthermore, in 2001, all the analysis reports carried out at the Tour of Switzerland were sent to Swiss Olympic.

Since 1st January 2004, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) receives a copy of any analysis reports which show an abnormal result. WADA has not reported any abnormal analyses from any of its accredited laboratories that have not been duly dealt with by the UCI.

The UCI wishes to reassert the total transparency of its anti-doping testing and categorically rejects any suspicion in relation to the concealment of results from parties involved in this field.

May 25th - BMC Racing Team: Statement Regarding Investigation Initiated by UCI Through FFC  

From BMC Racing Team President Jim Ochowicz:

John Lelangue has taken note of the press statements made by Mr. Pat McQuaid and the UCI regarding the initiation by the UCI of investigations through the national cycling federation against the persons indicated by the UCI, including John Lelangue through FFC.

This outcome as a consequence of the accusations made by Floyd Landis is regrettable for the sport. John Lelangue received a respective note from the UCI in which it is stated that the UCI does not regard the accusations of Mr. Landis as founded, but the UCI invites John Lelangue to cooperate to bring transparency to those allegations.

John Lelangue said: "I will fully cooperate in such investigation by FFC, if any, to help the UCI and the cycling sport to show that the accusations of Mr. Landis against various persons and also me are not founded. This may help the persons accused, including myself, and the UCI to terminate this side battle created by Mr. Landis."

"As it was stated before and through various media during the last days, Mr. Landis is placing obviously disoriented accusations deriving from his regrettable fall down as sportsman and person in creditability."

"However, and for the time being as Mr McQuaid stated into the same direction, we - the cycling sport and myself at the BMC Racing Team - continue to currently fully attend to the spectacular racing in this year's Giro d'Italia, and as far as my person is involved, I will have time to attend afterwards to the said accusations of Mr. Landis, which are totally unfounded. For the time being the Giro and the absolute concentration on Cadel Evans's race in our team has priority."

Jim Ochowicz says: "The BMC Racing Team continues to fully support John Lelangue and is absolutely convinced that John Lelangue will help to challenge and set aside the allegations of Mr. Landis against him."

May 21st - Canadian Cycling Association: CCA responds to latest doping revelations

The CCA has been made aware of Floyd Landis' personal revelations in respect of his 2006 Tour de France disqualification for doping. The rationale for Mr. Landis deciding to make this revelation at this time can only be known to him.

Included in the media reports on Mr. Landis' revelations are numerous allegations attributed to Mr. Landis towards other riders which are unsubstantiated by any analytical findings. It would be premature to draw any conclusions from these allegations.

The Union Cycliste International (UCI) has invested heavily over recent years in the Biological Passport for each pro tour rider and by all accounts, including last year's Tour de France, it has proven to be a significant deterrent.

The comments of Mr. Landis date back to his decision to engage in prohibited substances and practices almost a decade ago. Substantial improvements in detection and much enhanced testing protocols and activity are in place today to eradicate doping from the world of professional cycling. The fact that Mr. Landis was caught in 2006 supports this conclusion.

The Canadian Cycling Association does not condone the use of prohibited substances or practices and educates its national team riders to the severe consequences of a positive doping test.

Further, the CCA has invested in an anti-doping promotion program Race Clean – Own Your Victory that is driven by national team athletes and supported by them. It is our goal, and that of the UCI, to ensure that athletes compete on a fair and clean playing field.

May 20th - USA Cycling: USA Cycling Statement Regarding Recent Doping Allegations

In light of the recent allegations by Mr. Landis, USA Cycling would like to reiterate its zero tolerance policy for doping in sport. As the official governing body for all American cycling, USA Cycling supports all efforts and agencies in preventing doping within cycling and cooperates fully with the appropriate testing and enforcement agencies.

"In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency's Code of Athlete's Rights, USA Cycling does not and will not discuss doping allegations, investigations or any aspect of an adjudication process," stated USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson.

"There are many accusations being circulated and we are confident these will be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate authorities. Cycling is the most aggressive sport in the fight against doping with some of the most diverse and innovative monitoring and testing programs including in and out of competition urine and blood tests, medical monitoring for Pro Tour and Pro Continental teams, and the biological passport program."

The United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, is an independent, national anti-doping agency with the explicit authority to test athletes and investigate doping allegations or abnormal test results.

USADA was created in 2000 by Congress to provide an independent agency to police doping in U.S. Olympic sport. Therefore, by design, National Governing Bodies are not the primary conduit or gatekeeper for information to USADA.

If USA Cycling were to receive specific information alleging doping, it is our procedure to forward that information to USADA. It is however, the responsibility of any athlete with firsthand knowledge of doping to report it directly to USADA. Direct routes to notify USADA are available at www.usantidoping.org and USA Cycling encourages all members with evidence of doping to report directly to USADA.

May 20th - USADA, United States Anti-doping Agency

"Clean athletes and those who value clean sport can rest assured that the institutions established to support and protect them are working diligently on their behalf. Our duty is to fairly and thoroughly pursue any and all reliable evidence of doping to reveal the truth and to ensure honest and fair athletic competition worldwide for both fans and athletes. In circumstances where the process results in credible evidence of doping, USADA will follow its mandate to protect clean athletes and the integrity of sport by taking appropriate action under the rules established by federal law. "

"With that said, we do not comment on the substance of any doping investigation."

"It is important to re-emphasize USADA's position that all athletes are innocent until and unless proven otherwise through the established legal process. Attempts to sensationalize or exploit either the process or the athletes are a disservice to fair play, due process, and to those who love clean sport."

May 20th - WADA, World Anti-doping Agency

"WADA is aware of the serious allegations made by Mr Landis. We are very interested in learning more about this matter and we will liaise with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and any other authority with appropriate jurisdiction to get to the heart of the issues raised. WADA looks forward to these further investigations and enquiries by those responsible."

"Generally speaking, WADA encourages everyone with knowledge of banned practices in sport, including athletes who were caught cheating and who denied the evidence for years, to be forthcoming in disclosing the information they may have to the proper authorities. This will further contribute to clean sport and strengthen existing anti-doping programs for the good of clean athletes worldwide."

May 20th - Lance Armstrong

"With regard to the specific allegations and the specific claims, they are not even worth getting into. I'm not going to waste your time or my time. I think history speaks for itself here. We've all followed this case for the last four years. We've followed Floyd winning the Tour and we don't know what he did or didn't do when he was on that team. We can only speak about what he did when he was on our team. We followed the case, we followed all the drama with regard to the case and now we see something different. That is about it."  Read full transcript ... here.

May 20th - UCI: UCI rejects accusations by Floyd Landis

The International Cycling Union (UCI) categorically rejects accusations made by Mr Floyd Landis, in particular the allegation that a positive doping result by Lance Armstrong during the 2002 Tour of Switzerland was concealed after an agreement was reached between the American rider, his directeur sportif Mr Johan Bruyneel and the former UCI President, Mr Hein Verbruggen.

Deeply shocked by the gravity of this statement, which considerably impinges on the honour of all persons who have dedicated themselves to the fight against doping, the UCI wishes to clearly state that it has never changed or concealed a positive test result.

The accusation by Mr Floyd Landis, guilty himself of a breach of the Anti-Doping Rules in 2006, is thus completely unfounded and the UCI can only express its outrage at this new attempt to harm the image of cycling. Our sport has long paid a heavy price for the fraudulent behaviour of individuals such as Floyd Landis and we cannot accept the principles governing our work being challenged in terms of their ethics and honesty by a person who has not hesitated to breach such principles.

By way of information, the UCI would like to point out that Lance Armstrong did not participate in the 2002 Tour of Switzerland.

Finally, the UCI wishes to make clear that it will undertake all necessary measures to defend its honour as well as the honour of all its executives who have been unfairly accused by Mr Floyd Landis.

May 20th - BMC Racing Team: Statement from Jim Ochowicz, BMC Racing Team President.

"The BMC Racing Team is aware of the allegations leveled against some of its management team and one of its riders, U.S. national champion George Hincapie. These allegations are not true, absolutely unfounded and unproven. This is disappointing to anyone who works in the sport or is a fan of the sport."

Statement from George Hincapie, U.S. national champion:

"I have been a professional on the circuit for 17 years – which is one of the longest careers in the peloton. During that time, I have earned the respect of my peers and a reputation for working hard, honestly and honorably. I'm really disappointed to hear these accusations."

May 20th - UCI: Declarations made by Floyd Landis

The International Cycling Union has learned of the declarations made by Mr Floyd Landis and published in the Wall Street Journal.

The UCI regrets that Mr Landis has publicly accused individuals without allowing sufficient time for the relevant US authorities to investigate.

An impartial investigation is a fundamental right, as Mr Landis will understand having contested, for two years, the evidence of his breach of the Anti-Doping Rules in 2006.

The UCI will leave it to the individuals accused by Mr Landis to take the position they see fit with regards to this issue.

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