Accusations by disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis of widespread doping among Lance Armstrong and his former teammates have brought demands from International Olympic Committee, anti-doping and cycling officials that Landis furnish proof.
The day after Landis's accusations was marked by a storm of criticism from Armstrong and his RadioShack cycling team, there were also strident denials from "incensed" Canadian cyclist Michael Barry and Armstrong's former team manager Johan Bruyneel.
Armstrong himself followed up with another barrage of criticism Friday, saying that Landis has "zero credibility" and releasing emails from Landis's sponsor that begged the disgraced cyclist to avoid a public fight with the seven-time Tour de France champion.
"Even a superficial review reveals a troubling, angry and misplaced effort at retribution by Landis for his perceived slights," said a statement posted on Armstrong's RadioShack team website. "While these types of repeated, tired and baseless accusations against Lance have been proven false in the past, it is quite regrettable, but telling, that so many in cycling are now attacked."
However, former American cycling star Greg LeMond said he believes "most of Floyd Landis's statements" that systematic doping takes place in the sport and cycling needs a change in culture to survive.
Landis's accusations are expected to be passed on to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and investigator Jeff Novitzky, the federal agent who was instrumental in busting the BALCO doping ring.
The leaders of the IOC and World Anti-Doping Agency want concrete evidence of Landis's stunning allegations against Armstrong.
"He has to bring proof that this is true," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told The Associated Press Friday. "You can't condemn without proof. … You can only sanction an athlete with tangible proof."
WADA president John Fahey said if there is any substance to Landis's allegations, the USADA or International Cycling Union (UCI) 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.
Hein Verbruggen, former president of the cycling union, refuted Landis's accusation of Armstrong, telling The Associated Press: "He has never been [tested]positive."
Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title, implicated Barry among at least 16 people involved in doping. Barry, 34, of Toronto, a three-time Olympian and 18th at the last road racing worlds, said on his website the allegations from Floyd Landis "are completely untrue."
He said in a e-mail message to The Globe and Mail that "it's important that we all compete clean or else no one will care about this sport.
"I have never won a major race, yet I have had and continue to have, an excellent career in the sport I love. As a boy, my father taught me it is about the ride and the journey and I still feel that on my bike every day… Winning a major race would be great but I am not going to compromise who I am to get there."
Bruyneel, team manager when Armstrong was winning races for U.S. Postal, called Landis "bitter" in his accusations. Landis alleged Bruyneel was orchestrating illegal drug use when the U.S. Postal Team was dominating the Tour de France. Bruyneel has the same position with Armstrong's current Radio Shack team. He said Landis attempted to leverage his association with the team into a future position if he could not beat the drug rap.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Cycling Association suggested Landis's accusations were driven by the 2006 disqualification, denying that Canadian men have been part of the clandestine world of doping on the pro circuit alluded to by Landis. "The rationale for Mr. Landis deciding to make this revelation at this time can only be known to him," the CCA said in a release.
With files from The Associated Press