THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Monday's Mailbag: Floyd's defense; cheers and jeers for USA Cycling chief
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Lab’s techniques severely flawed
Editor:
After having finally reviewed the PowerPoint presentation given by Floyd Landis’s attorney, I am shocked by the audacity of the "accredited" laboratory to call his results positive. The results seem only to indicate that the laboratory cannot perform the tests in a reproducible manner. This is the first and foremost point of any scientific endeavor: Can you repeat the experiments that prove what you’re claiming.
Having both submitted and reviewed articles for peer-reviewed journals, I can say without equivocation that based on the provided data, no conclusion is possible other than that the laboratory’s techniques are severely flawed.
The additional information about record-keeping and whether the lab knew whose sample they were testing are damaging to the lab credibility, but fundamentally unnecessary, as the test data indicate nothing of relevance to whether the specimen contained exogenous testosterone or even if the T/E ratio was outside the norm.
The fact that a positive was declared from the data is most damaging for the laboratory’s credibility, however.
Jason Jouet
Indian Head, Maryland
Did USADA set up a smack-down?
Editor:
I've been thumbing through the Floyd Landis stuff. I'm curious, is it possible that the USADA rejected Floyd's motion to drop the charges in order to give WADA and the UCI a much-needed smack-down? After all, if the blunders laid out by Floyd's team are true, it should be WADA and the UCI that have to eat crow.
Dave Bates
Republic, Missouri
Cheers to Landis for gutsy fight
Editor:
Give Floyd credit. How many times have we witnessed someone accused of something hide from the light and decline comment on on the advice of legal counsel? And the accusers go on the offensive, shouting "guilty" in every possible media arena. Well, here comes Floyd, taking his case to the public, opening himself up for us all to see. This is unprecedented courage and conviction and I applaud the man for having the stones to challenge the zealots on their own turf.
Also, kudos to Arnie Baker for helping Floyd. A few years ago I contacted Arnie after reading a VeloNews piece about some of his work, and he was as giving and as genuine as anyone I’ve ever spoken to, even though he doesn’t know me from Adam. I know others who have also contacted him, getting the benefit of his advice. And I’m talking about him providing advice without compensation, just because he cares and is a decent guy who loves cycling and its participants.
Go Team Floyd — the 2007 Tour de France is only 10 months away.
Dino Lucarelli
Villa Hills, Kentucky
USA Cycling’s CEO deserves applause
Editor:
Jason Sumner’s interview with Steve Johnson, new CEO of USA Cycling, was informative and inspirational. It was a good look inside the sport that many of us don't fully understand.
Johnson has big visions for cycling in America at all levels, and we should applaud and support his effort financially. He has a complete understanding of cycling from the lowest amateur level, how it can improve the health status of average citizens, up to the top pro level where significant financial resources are required to improve our status in the sport on the international stage.
If Johnson is only partly successful in realizing his vision of cycling in America we will all be better off for his efforts. Imagine Joe Lunchpail riding his bicycle to work as a truck driver because his kids are so involved with the sport he can't ignore it. Does that sound a bit like life in Europe?
League of American Bicyclists and other bicycling organizations take note: Steve Johnson is challenging you to take the intensity up a notch.
Hurray for the sport!
David Kamp
Corvallis, Oregon
No, Johnson needs correcting on several points
Editor:
In the second part of his interview with Jason Sumner, USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson has made numerous statements concerning the American Cycling Association (ACA) and the Oregon Bike Racing Association (OBRA) that are in error.
Johnson claims these organizations "use our rulebook." In fact, neither uses the USA Cycling rulebook, nor does American Bicycle Racing (ABR), for that matter. Each maintains racing rules that are separate and distinct from USA Cycling’s and were written from scratch. If Johnson wishes to verify this, here are the relevant links:
Johnson claims that ACA and OBRA "use our officials." In fact, before I could be issued an ACA official’s license, ACA Executive Director Beth Wrenn-Estes required that I attend an ACA officials’ seminar in Denver, rather than convert my USCF license directly. Furthermore, each association has clothing regulations that clearly distinguish its officials from those of USA Cycling.
Mr. Johnson claims that ACA and OBRA "underinsure." This is untrue, and grossly prejudicial. In fact, their liability insurance limits, the last time I checked, are in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and $5,000,000 aggregate – the same as is offered by USA Cycling. These amounts more than satisfy limits specified by state law, where applicable.
Finally, Johnson claims "they use our infrastructure." Once again, not true: each organization has its own web site, administrators, race kit, newsletter, etc.
Ironically, these same claims were made by a USA Cycling regional representative at a USA Cycling seminar I attended several years ago. It now seems clear where this misinformation originates from, and that the pattern continues to this day.
If Johnson truly wishes to make a fresh start and move USA Cycling forward, I think it would be a good idea if he paid more attention to the accuracy of his public statements, rather than glibly and speciously claiming, "I don't have any personal interest in going after or undermining the efforts of OBRA or ACA," then proceeding to make false, derogatory statements against them.
Thanks to Mr. Johnson, USAC instead is sporting a black eye – an old, familiar look, that.
Charles Howe
Olmsted Falls, Ohio
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
