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Landis won't be racing in this year's Tour de France

Floyd Landis of the US prepares for a training session two days before the start of the 93rd Tour de France cycling race in June in Strasbourg, France. Landis will not defend his Tour de France victory following an agreement he signed with the French anti-doping agency. PHOTO: AFP

Floyd Landis won't take part in the Tour de France or any other race in France this year.

Last year's Tour champion agreed on Thursday not to race again in France until next year.

In exchange, the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) postponed its decision on whether to suspend him from competing in France for a maximum of two years.

"Floyd is pleased that the AFLD has agreed with his counsel's request that they suspend this proceeding," spokesman Michael Henson said.

Earlier, AFLD president Pierre Bordry said Landis "understood perfectly that if he didn't act today, we would start the procedure immediately."

Landis will go before the US Anti-Doping Agency on May 14 and, following that, the AFLD will deliver its verdict in June.

"We will let Landis defend himself as he wishes," Bordry said.

Both parties are satisfied, but the actual ruling on whether the racer will be cleared or suspended seems as distant as the Alpine peaks Landis so flamboyantly scaled last summer before his world hit rock bottom.

After a win in 17th stage on July 21, Landis' urine sample was found to contain elevated testosterone and epitestosterone levels.

He risks being stripped of his title, and race director Christian Prudhomme -- while not commenting on Thursday -- has said he no longer considers Landis the champion.

Under French law, the AFLD has the right to suspend Landis for up to two years from racing on French soil.

Henson said attorneys are working to obtain information concerning Landis' case from USADA and are annoyed their request has not been granted.

"We have asked them once and are in the process of asking them again," Henson said. "We would like USADA to be as cooperative as the AFLD has been."

Henson's praise for Bordry's handling of the case contrasts with some sharp words for USADA.

"Given their inclination to apply their rules in such a way that it disadvantages the athletes, we don't expect that they'll change their disposition in that regard," Henson said, adding that he wants a public hearing for Landis.

"We're hopeful it's going to happen," Henson said. "We've asked for the broadest possible definition of public. We'd like it to be open to media and to interested parties."

Landis and his defense team say the French lab at Chatenay-Malabry that carried out the doping tests is unreliable, a charge backed up by Lance Armstrong.

Landis's astonishing stage win under a blazing sun was considered the best cycling display in the modern era -- better than anything even Armstrong or five-time champion Eddy Merckx managed.

The previous day, Landis strug-gled up the Col du Galibier and Croix-de-Fer -- two merciless climbs -- and staggered over the line 8 minutes and 8 seconds behind Oscar Pereiro of Spain.

Landis turned his fortunes around in the 17th stage after breaking out on another punishing mountain climb. He rode alone for hours to pull to only 30 seconds behind Pereiro in the overall standings.
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