October 11, 2007 (Lausanne, Switzerland) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the world’s final authority in sporting disputes, today confirmed it has received an appeal from US cyclist Floyd Landis (formerly with Phonak).

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, but tested positive for doping with artificial testosterone. This led to a lengthy legal dispute pitting the cyclist against the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). This chapter ended when the American Arbitration Association (AAA) ruled in a 2-to-1 split decision against the cyclist on September 20. That decision stripped Landis of his winner’s jersey and gave him a two-year suspension from professional cycling. But the story is not over yet…

The Swiss-based CAS has the power to annul the AAA decision and is Landis’ final avenue of appeal. A decision should be expected from CAS within four months, by early February, 2008. The case will once again be between Landis, represented by attorney Maurice Suh, and attorneys from USADA before a three-person panel of arbitrators. It’s believed that the hearing will be behind closed doors. More details of the appeal will be released later by CAS.

It was widely speculated that Landis would not appeal the AAA decision because of financial difficulties; the legal fight has allegedly cost him $2 million to date. But as Landis said yesterday, “I will not stop trying to prove my innocence.”

“My hope is that the CAS panel will review my case on the basis of the facts and the science, and to approach my appeal from the principle that the anti-doping authorities must uphold the highest levels of appropriate process, technical skill, science and professional standards to pronounce judgment on matters that hold an athlete’s career, accomplishments and livelihood in the balance,” reads part of a statement at www.floydlandis.com/blog/

Meanwhile a Madrid ceremony is planned for Monday, Oct. 15 to present the 2006 TdF yellow jersey to Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne) who finished second.