Lance Armstrong Denies Landis' Doping Claims

(CBS/AP)  Last updated at 6:43 p.m. ET

Lance Armstrong has denied allegations made by disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis, who accused the seven-time Tour de France champion of doping.

"It's our word against his word," Armstrong said in Visalia, Calif., before the fifth stage of the Tour of California. "I like our word. We like our credibility."

With his longtime coach Johan Bruyneel standing next to him, Armstrong said Landis seemingly pointed the finger at everyone still involved in the sport.

"We have nothing to hide. We have nothing to run from," said Armstrong, who later quit the race to go to a hospital for X-rays after crashing just outside of Visalia, Calif.

Team spokesman Philippe Maertens says Armstrong got stitches in his left elbow and under his left eye.

CBSSports.com: Landis Comes Clean, Accuses Armstrong
Proving Floyd Landis' Doping Accusations

Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping, yet always denied cheating until now. He recently sent e-mails to cycling officials and sponsors detailing his blood doping. He also claimed that Armstrong and Bruyneel paid an International Cycling Union official to cover-up a test in 2002 after Armstrong purportedly tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

In an e-mail Landis sent to USA Cycling chief Steve Johnson, he said Armstrong's positive EPO test was in 2002, around the time he won the Tour de Suisse. Armstrong won the Tour de Suisse in 2001, not 2002.

Landis also alleges that after one stage of 2004 Tour de France, the team got off their bikes and boarded a bus where each of them received blood transfusions on the side of the road, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

"We're a little confused, maybe just as confused as you guys," Armstrong said, with Bruyneel by his side. "The timeline is off, year by year."

The Wall Street Journal first reported the details of the e-mails.

Landis also implicated other cyclists, including longtime Armstrong confidant George Hincapie, and acknowledged using human growth hormone starting in 2003.

"Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing," Landis wrote in the e-mail to Johnson.

USA Cycling said it would comment later Thursday. Landis did not respond to messages left by the AP.

[baileyccc]

Lance was like Barry Bonds, on the cutting edge of steroids and knew how to beat the testing like Bonds did. Lance got out after he had made his money and the testing got too sophisticated for him to continue. There is some merit in Landis remarks. But to put solid evidence on the table at this late date is so near impossible. I believe Landis about Lance. posted by baileyccc

[cktirumalai]

A man who once denied that he cheated has now come "clean". The testimony of such a man against another, however illustrious, cannot be lightly dismissed. Will all athletic heroes turn out to possess feet of clay?
While an allegation, even that of someone who knew racing and racers from the inside, does not constitute proof, one is left wondering.
There is no good alternative to honesty.
Candadai Tirumalai

[rykatspop]

My second-grader picked Lance Armstrong as his "Great People of America" for his school presentation. It will be a huge disappointment for us if it pans out that he's accomplishments are tied to doping. I guess my son will have to learn about the realities of life even younger than I had to. I can see why Lance would want to deny the problem . . . with a foundation for fighting cancer hanging in the balance. Lance, are going to fall from grace, too? Will it all be for not? The odds don't look good these days.

[SunDog8259]

He had me fooled all these years -- I suspected sabotage by a competitor or jealous fan. Such a shame, who's next? Tiger? Naw he's too wholesome. Wasting needed blood resources to cover sport cheating, now that's criminal for a doctor to do.

[strabinez]

It's not about Armstrong or Landis (competitors always point fingers)....it's about passing the TESTING done to control cheating, or not. Armstrong denies (passed) Landia accuses (not passed) not too hard to figure out.

[dwilson59]

people use steriods because they work

[baileyccc]

Cycling is like boxing, it is so corrupt it can never be cleaned up. posted by baileyccc

[pragmatist1]

Baseball and football athletes took the same denial route to cover-up their substance use. Even Armstrong's competition voiced concerns over this numerous times. Actually I think Armstrong's cancer inhibiting drugs gave him a boost in performance, but authorities claimed these drugs weren't illegal.

[stupa5]

Let's see landis the cry baby boy rat..." got cheating & admitted it" "so I'll point the finger at somebody else so the heats off me and I can make millions in TV shows & books..."
Fool take your medicine like a man...your not a detective, judge & jury...your a cheating "LOSER that got caught"...Whether Armstrong & the rest of thecyclist cheated or not is for other to determine not childish crybabies like your self..worse than a cheater a RAT! to bad you didn't have big pocket sponsors & money to cover your tail...wake up to the real & nasty world of big money sports...fool!

[rondivoo]

what an appropriate username... "stupa5"