Would You Like To Play A Game?

I've really never had a particular opinion about Floyd Landis' case, or about Floyd Landis himself. I've never been a huge fan, nor have I had anything against the guy. He just didn't figure very prominently in my cycling radar.

Naturally, I hate doping, and I hate what it does to the sport and to otherwise brilliant athletes, but I am not in the position to determine a individual's guilt or innocence in any particular case. I have little sympathy for those who have intentionally and unquestionably used banned substances, but I also cannot pretend to have the ability or energy to understand the science or politics involved in many of the recent high profile doping cases.

But when the recent hacking charge came out, more than three years after the alleged incident occurred, and seemingly coincident with Landis' publicly toying with the idea of perhaps competing in the Tour again, it all just seemed so ridiculous. Maybe this is just an emotional reaction, but isn't it time to move on?

Floyd Landis (Image: Feuillu)

Guilty or innocent, he has done his time: he was stripped of his TdF win, suspended from cycling for over a year, has incurred incredible legal costs, and has been shamed before the cycling world.

But I guess that's not enough. There seems to be a desire among some in the world of cycling to make doping charges equivalent to a life sentence, by constantly raising questions, allegations, and charges against anyone whose ever been associated with doping questions. It seems counterproductive, as the more emphasis there is upon the malfeasance of certain cyclists, especially those who have won or come close to winning the TdF, the more the sport of cycling becomes automatically associated with doping - as if banned substances are used more prominently by cyclists than by than, say, baseball players.

The charges against Landis appear to be not because of evidence against him in particular, but in relation to questions regarding how information used in his defense was obtained, and association with Arnie Baker, whose IP address was identified in connection with the alleged hacking. Isn't that like being charged with drunk driving because you were a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone who was intoxicated?

I don't pretend to understand the intricacies of the French legal system, but it seems strange to me that the alleged hacking concerns documentation related to the case that was apparently used in Mr. Landis' defense.  Whether the data in question was obtained by hacking - or theft, or an internal leak, etc. - or not, it raises questions about Landis' access to a fair hearing. By alleging that evidence used by the defense was obtained illegally, it appears to indicate that the information was not available to the defense. Shouldn't a defendant have access to information and evidence relevant to his case?

Otherwise, an individual is powerless against the system.

I suppose, if the French government truly believes that Floyd Landis really committed the crime of hacking into French doping agency computers - an event that I imagine probably went something like this - and there is evidence to support their case, then it's not unreasonable to expect that charges would be filed. But I do hope that this is just not an attempt to further shame and discredit Floyd Landis, or to prevent him from competing in the Tour by keeping him out of France.

The sad truth about doping is that it does occur, probably much more than we'd like to believe. It diminishes the sport and reduces the status of athletes who - on a bad day, without drugs, even with the flu or broken bones - are a billion times better than most of us could ever dream of being. It's a devastating waste of such incredible talent and hard work to give into the temptation to gain a few seconds on his competitors.

But equally sad is the fact that in terms of public perception a missed test is as bad as a failed test; a doping rumor, question, or allegation is as bad as a doping charge; an accidental case of doping is as bad as an intentional one; a doping charge is as bad as a doping conviction.

I'm not saying that we should look away, that doping cases should be taken lightly or dismissed. To be honest, I don't actually know what I'm saying. Of course, I know that intentional doping is unacceptable, and the consequences are appropriate. And I know that I believe in justice, but I also believe that redemption is a component of justice. Landis served his sentence. Isn't that enough?