Landis’ inclusion in conference sparks controversy
Today, the organizing committee of the UCI Road World Championships withdrew its support of the New Pathways for Professional Cycling conference, hosted by Deakin University, and publicly criticised the event for including the participation
of controversial cyclist Floyd Landis. The event will be held at the university’s Waterfront Campus in Geelong, Australia on September 27-28, and Landis will be a guest speaker in the panel discussion.
“Providing Floyd Landis with a soapbox to deliver a tirade like he did on the eve of the Tour of California is not something the World Championship organisers want," said Melbourne media director David Culbert to the
Herald Sun. “The official imprimatur of the organising committee has been withdrawn.”
The World Championships begin September 29 in Geelong, the day after the conference, and finish with the time-trial competition on October 3. Landis, winner of the 2006 Tour de France, has been the subject of controversy since he was disqualified from that
title after testing positive for testosterone. This spring, after nearly four years of maintaining his innocence, he announced that he had been doping for most of his career and that it was common among the US Postal Service team, which caused former-teammate
Lance Armstrong to become implicated in a federal investigation into the former American staff and riders of the federally-funded team.
“The role and reputation of a university is based on its ability to contribute to informed public debate on matters of importance to society,” said a statement released by Deakin University today in response to the withdrawal of the committee’s support.
In it, the university reaffirmed their commitment to continue with the conference as planned, including Landis’ presence.
“The topic of doping in cycling is such an issue. We recognise it is a controversial one, and is therefore, worth discussion in itself. The conference is a place for serious and positive discussion of this topic. Deakin University firmly believes in the
value of open, rational and transparent interrogation of all views and perspectives.”
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