Report: Landis still hopes for reversal

New York -- Floyd Landis says his life has changed since becoming the only cyclist dethroned as the champion of the Tour de France.

He won the event last year, but was stripped after doping allegations.
The New York Times reported Friday Landis spent close to $2 million on lawyers to discredit the French lab that performed his drug tests after the race.

He was forced to withdraw from this year's race as he awaited a decision from an arbitration panel on whether his 2006 victory would stand.

He hoped the decision would be reversed.

The report noted his urine sample showed a suspicious imbalance in his body's testosterone.

This summer, Landis, who lives near San Diego, gained weight (10 pounds) while he trained in vain, and his sponsors long since have abandoned him.
He still eats protein-heavy, nutritionally pumped-up chocolate pudding.
This year's winner, Alberto Contador of Spain, and potential winner, Michael Rasmussen of Denmark, were dethroned for the same reason.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.