Tour de France chief calls Landis a cheater

Tour de France chief Patrice Clerc said he considers Floyd Landis a cheater who has discredited cycling’s showcase race.

“For me, the sermon has been read. Landis did not win the Tour because he cheated,” Clerc said in an interview with sports daily L’Equipe published Wednesday in Paris.

Landis tested positive for elevated testosterone after winning this year’s Tour de France and was fired by his Phonak team in August. The tour director, Christian Prudhomme, previously said he no longer considered Landis the champion.

Landis could become the first winner in the 103-year history of the Tour de France to lose his title over doping allegations. Landis’ legal team claims major mistakes were made in the tests that came up positive for synthetic testosterone.

A review board has recommended the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency move forward in the disciplinary process against Landis.

Clerc, the head of Amaury Sports Organization which owns the Tour, said that Landis “gravely affected the credibility of his sport.”

Urine tests were taken July 20 following Landis’ Stage 17 victory during a grueling Alpine leg, when he regained nearly eight minutes on leader Oscar Pereiro. Landis’ “A” and “B” samples turned up a ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone of 11:1 – far in excess of the 4:1 limit.

Olympics

Chinese officials deny plans to expel migrants

A Beijing official denied reports the city will expel migrant workers during the 2008 Olympics, but said the Chinese capital is considering how to keep the mentally ill from “damaging the public interest” during the Games.

Chinese officials have promised that hosting the Olympics will improve respect for human rights, while IOC officials have warned them privately that excessive social controls could mar the Games.

The Beijing Morning Post newspaper reported that many of the 1 million migrant workers in Beijing from other parts of China would be expelled before the Olympics.

“This contention has no basis in fact,” Zhou Jidong, head of the city government’s legal department, said at a news conference.

“Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso will headline the U.S. Alpine team roster. Former World Cup champion Bode Miller and 2002 Olympian, Dane Spencer, were also named.

Horse Racing

Jockey may have illegally used buzzer

A quarter horse jockey is under investigation for allegedly using an electronic buzzer on his horse during the second race at Fairplex Park last Sunday.

“As a law enforcement agency, we take these allegations seriously, so we’re investigating it,” California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten said.

Marten said CHRB investigators wouldn’t release details other than to confirm they’re looking into the charge against jockey Carlos Bautista.

Marten said it’s required that all races in California are videotaped, and he expected the camera system to give officials a good look at the race.

“Typically, a tape is used for riding infractions,” he said. “It’s used in stewards’ reviews to determine if infractions have occurred.”

Miscellany

Fire burn Galaxy to capture U.S. Open Cup

The Chicago Fire won their fourth U.S. Open Cup title, getting first-half goals from Nate Jaqua and Andy Herron and a late score from Thiago to beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 in Bridgeview, Ill. Chicago is only the fifth team to win the soccer title four times.

“NHL Goalie Dan Cloutier has agreed to a two-year extension with the Los Angeles Kings.