Doping Scandal Takes a Turn for the Tabloid

Floyd Landis' doping hearing vaulted from procedural to lurid yesterday with an allegation of harassment and acknowledgment of sexual abuse by a fellow American Tour de France winner. In an attempt to keep Greg LeMond from taking the stand, Landis' manager phoned him on Wednesday and impersonated the uncle who had sexually abused the cycling champ as a child.

"I think there's another side of Floyd that the public hasn't seen," said LeMond. Landis's lawyer promptly and publicly fired the manager, who acknowledged making the call. At the hearing, LeMond testified that he had encouraged Landis to come clean if both of his urine samples tested positive for synthetic testosterone, which they did. (More Greg LeMond stories.)