In a letter published in this morning’s Intelligencer Journal, Dan Garrett contends Floyd Landis had nothing to do with what has become known as The Call.
Garrett was in Malibu, Calif. last month for the doping hearing of Landis, a Lancaster County native, and winner of last summer’s Tour de France. Garrett was Landis’ former economics teacher at Conestoga Valley High School. He is now a magisterial district judge in Warwick Township. He was slated to be called as a character witness for Landis in the nine-day hearing, but was not called.
“The infamous phone call from Will Goeghegan was tragic and stupid, but it was the act of one individual. According to the time of the call, I was in the room with Landis and others when Will made thatcall. I had no knowledge, nor did Landis, that a call was being made to LeMond,” Garrett wrote.
Garrett, with his wife Mary Ann, were at a hotel meeting room at the time of the call. Landis, his legal team and supporters gathered there nightly during the hearing for dinner and discussion. He had previously described the scene in a New Era article, http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/205004.
In The Call, Goeghegan, Landis’ former manager, allegedly tried to intimidate the three-time Tour champion Greg LeMond to prevent him from testifying at the hearing. LeMond’s disclosure of the incident caught international attention.
Garrett contended LeMond - who refused to answer any questions under cross-examination - used his testimony for “self-glorification.”
In his letter, Garrett said Landis’ defense team was effective in showing the French lab made countless errors in testing urine samples reported to be taken from Landis during the race. The U.S. Anti-doping Agency case against Landis would have quickly been dismissed by a jury, Garrett argued. The case is now pending before a panel of three arbiters. Landis faces being stripped of his title and being banned from professional racing for two years.
