Landis loses doping, suspension appeal

Lausanne, Switzerland -- The Court of Arbitration for Sport Monday dismissed cyclist Floyd Landis' appeal of doping sanctions, which cost him the 2006 Tour de France title.

Landis tested positive for synthetic testosterone during the 2006 Tour de France. The cyclist claimed the French laboratory that did the testing was biased and made procedural errors.

The CAS, sitting in Lausanne, Switzerland, issued a release Monday saying Landis failed to show the lab didn't meet international standards and said Landis should also pay the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency $100,000 to cover the agency's CAS appeal costs.

The CAS said there was no evidence supporting Landis' allegations of "litigation misconduct" against USADA and "if there was any litigation misconduct it may be ascribed to" Landis.

The decision upholds Landis' disqualification from the 2006 Tour de France and subsequent two-year suspension from professional racing, which has six months remaining. The appeal decision announced Monday supported a decision handed down by a CAS panel last September.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.