Fast Break

Cycling

Looks like justice at any price

The final step in the Floyd Landis doping case will take place in New York, America’s most expensive city, and once again, American taxpayers will foot part of the bill.

The 2006 Tour de France winner, who was stripped of his victory last year, seeks to have his title restored by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It’s the final step in a series of appeals that have cost upward of $2 million, a good portion of which has been paid for with federal funds.

Landis is banned from cycling by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency until the end of January 2009.

The hearing starts Wednesday at a Manhattan law office.

It will be costly, and a good chunk of the cost will be footed by USADA, which gets about 70 percent of its $12 million annual budget from the federal government, and the rest from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

When all of USADA’s expenses are added up, it’s possible prosecuting the Landis case from start to finish could eat up between 5 and 10 percent of the agency’s annual budget.

Hockey

Pronger caught in the act

Upon further review, Chris Pronger’s stomp on the leg of Vancouver center Ryan Kesler could not go unpunished.

The NHL kicked back at Anaheim’s All-Star defenseman on Saturday, suspending him for eight games.

During Anaheim’s 4-1 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday, Pronger and Kesler became tangled behind the Vancouver net. As Pronger turned to head back up ice, he stepped on Kesler’s leg as the Canucks forward lay on the ice.

No penalty was called on the play, and the NHL said a proper video angle wasn’t available until Thursday night.

Summer camps

Calling all camps

If you have a camp you would like listed in our annual summer camp guide, send the informa- tion to summercamps@ spokesman.com; fax to (509) 459-5098; or mail to Summer Camp Guide, Spokesman- Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane WA 99201.

Include a description of the camp, location, dates, times, ages, cost and contact information. Submissions must be received by the end of business on March 21. Questions? Call (509) 459-5485. The guide will be published April 16.