Landis Will Not Compete in 07' Tour De France

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis will compete in this year's race so he can continue fighting doping charges made against him at last years event.

Tests showed an abnormal increase in Landis' testosterone levels after an astounding comeback in the last mountain stage of the 2006 Tour in the French Alps, a day after a poor performance appeared to have knocked him out of contention for good.

On Thursday, the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) agreed to postpone its investigation due to be held that day in exchange for a pledge by the Californian not to race anywhere in France in 2007, including the Tour.

"Mr. Landis has asked the AFLD, in a letter read by his lawyer during the hearing, to have the possibility to first defend himself in front of the American disciplinary body (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency)," AFLD said in a statement.

"He says in this very letter that he promises not to take part in any race in France until the end of 2007, in particular in the 2007 Tour de France.

"The AFLD subsequently decided to postpone the examination of his case to a date that will be set according to the course of the procedure before the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency."

In his letter, of which Reuters obtained a copy, Landis wrote: "Let me assure you that I fully share the goal of preventing illegal doping..."

He added, though, that two disciplinary hearings in the U.S. and France dealing with the same facts could lead to confusion and so asked for the postponement of the French case.

"In this case, and in order to avoid any misunderstanding, I agree voluntarily not to participate in any professional or amateur cycling event in France until December 31, 2007, and in particular the Tour de France 2007."

His lawyers say the samples were mislabeled by the French laboratory which conducted the tests, the testing process was unreliable and the rider never in fact tested positive.

(Reuters, ESPN)