Landis, McQuaid trade barbs in press

Cycling's top official, president Pat McQuaid, has been subjected to a trial by media as he prepares for an arbitration hearing before the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency against the 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis. “Every athlete who tests positive blames the system and somebody else,” said McQuaid. “Floyd's no different. Floyd has very expensive lawyers and PR people. He's doing an epic number. The public needs to understand they are hearing one side of the story.” Landis is complaining about “the lack of leadership” and his rights are not being met because they are not protecting his livelihood. "At crushing personal expense, building a team of professionals to support me is the only way I have to fight against an unfair system and unsubstantiated allegations," Landis said. "Mr. McQuaid started my trial by media when he made his leading comments about a 'worst-case scenario' adverse analytical finding on July 26. His organization continued to subject me to a public show trial when I had no information with which to defend myself by leaking test results to The New York Times, announcing the results of ‘A' samples before ‘B' confirmations, and refusing to inform me of the results of my ‘B' sample before they announced it in a press release.”

Floyd Landis has created the Floyd Fairness Fund website to get support from local cyclist enthusiast.

This is an example of public relations because the article is trying to get support for the Floyd Fairness Fund. Landis is also trying to make the United States Anti-Doping Agency look like the “bad guy.” The public relations article is trying to persuade the cycling community that Floyd Landis is not guilty of doping and the charges against him should be dropped. Floyd is trying to dig himself out of the deep hole he has put himself in.

The trial by media is starting to get out of control. Both parties are starting to plead their cases. However, Floyd Landis has no facts to back his case up. The Anti-Doping Agency informed the media to began with because the wanted the concerned citizens to know that something was being done about the doping charges. Floyd Landis doped and was caught. Now he is trying to use the media against the Anti-Doping Agency and this made it to Cycling Andrew's “Crime Cyclist List.” Mr. McQuaird, president of the agency has made it to Cycling Andrew’s “Honest Cyclist List,” because he is not backing down after this trial was brought to the media.

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