Doping Scandal Takes a Turn for the Tabloid

Witness LeMond describes intimidation by Landis' manager
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted May 18, 2007 8:14 AM CDT
Doping Scandal Takes a Turn for the Tabloid
Former cyclist Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour de France winner, testifies against cyclist Floyd Landis during the arbitration hearing on the doping allegations against the 2006 the Tour de France champion at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, May 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)   (Associated Press)

Floyd Landis' doping hearing vaulted from procedural to lurid yesterday with an allegation of harassment and acknowledgment of sexual abuse by a fellow American Tour de France winner. In an attempt to keep Greg LeMond from taking the stand, Landis' manager phoned him on Wednesday and impersonated the uncle who had sexually abused the cycling champ as a child.

"I think there's another side of Floyd that the public hasn't seen," said LeMond. Landis's lawyer promptly and publicly fired the manager, who acknowledged making the call. At the hearing, LeMond testified that he had encouraged Landis to come clean if both of his urine samples tested positive for synthetic testosterone, which they did. (More Greg LeMond stories.)

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