VeloNation reported last night that Floyd Landis is planning to take claims and repay those who contributed to his legal defense fund known as the "Floyd Fairness Fund." The fund was established to provide resources to fight charges that he used performance enhancing drugs in the 2006 Tour de France. For years, Floyd claimed to be innocent of the charges but now has admitted to doping for several years as a pro cyclist. As such, he says that he wants to repay those who contributed to his defense.
The article notes that he doesn't currently have funds to repay donors but he hopes to make enough money to do so at some point. The article notes that the estimated total contributions were $1 million that Floyd would need to repay. A good chunk, or all of that amount, may be awarded to him if the whistleblower lawsuit he filed against Lance Armstrong and associates comes to fruition. If that doesn't pan out, it may be a long while before donors see any refunds. If you contributed to his fund, I wouldn't advise holding your breath in anticipation of your refund. Even so, I think it's another step in the right direction for Floyd.
I personally never contributed to Floyd's defense fund and if Contador was to set up a similar fund, I wouldn't contribute to it either. Not that I don't believe a false positive is out of the realm of possibilities but Alberto has a lot to explain before I send him any money...
Mark, I recently watched a documentary entitled "Biger, Stronger, Faster". It was about the impact PEDs have had on sport. There was a part that they interviewed Floyd Landis. The interview was prior to his admission. I can't believe what a bald face lier he was/is. With a straight face he stated that "I have never taken any PEDs and I'm proud of my win in the TDF and always will be." It was chilling to see how easily it was for him to lie. I'm sure this latest gesture is nothing more than deperation. He will never have money to pay anyone back. Don't fall in to the trap that somehow this statement adds to his credibility. A barking dog doesn't bite. The only time he can add anything to his credibility is when he actually does pay people back without having to proclaim that he did. His odds of winning anything under the "False Claims Act" is non existent.
ReplyDeleteThat's how this issue literally destroys lives and families. It goes far deeper than the cheating. It teaches them to lie, and to string-together complicated structures of lies. Pretty soon, they're finding it so easy to lie, they fib over the smallest little things, and they do it with such regularity that they don't know when to knock it the heck off. Floyd probably didn't lose his marriage over the doping. He probably lost it over the lies.
ReplyDeleteGary and Rhid: Like I said: don't hold your breath. I agree that the real test will be if he does pay anyone back. As for lying and fraud, many fraud perpetrators become or are pathological liars--especially those who get away with it for a long time. It doesn't even phase their consciences to lie...Tyler Hamilton's lies were very disappointing to me. Unfortunately, both these two cyclists probably learned how to lie about doping from the most successful fraudster in cycling ever. Floyd isn't the first or the last cheating athlete to be comfortable lying. At least he's no longer lying about it...I wish we could say the same about other famous cyclists. They all have their spin stories. The filet mignon from Spain or the lab must have sabotaged my sample. Give me a break from all the lies!!!
ReplyDeleteWatch this Youtube segment on Marion Jones. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orn94KTWwnw
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how boldly she proclaims her innocence and openly challenges investigators to the contrary. Having worked with hundreds of professional liars, the most common theme is their own arrogance that ultimately leads to the fall--the narcissism. There are way too many examples to cover here. Floyd Landis craves the attention, regardless of how he obtains it. What was his motivation in coming clean to begin with when he knew that it would ultimately destroy his reputation? Certainly not some moral code. Why not just simply keep the secret to yourself when many not only still believe you, but also contributed to your defense fund? Landis is an angry, turbulent man who wants to try and take as many down as he possibly can--whether telling the truth or not, since it keeps him in the spotlight. The narcissistic "injury" of being stripped of his TDF win and prospect of fading away with nothing more than the reputation as a cheat evidently proved too much.
Funny, I was going to suggest the Marion Jones video on YouTube as well. Interestingly, she never tested positive...
ReplyDelete"It doesn't matter what the answers are when you're asking the wrong questions"
ReplyDelete