Landis gets vote of confidence from Armstrong

LOS ANGELES: Floyd Landis, fighting a doping scandal that could cost him the Tour de France crown, made his case on US television and received a vote of confidence from seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong.

Landis, appearing on CNN's 'Larry King Live' programme from Madrid, reiterated that his positive test for an abnormal testosterone-to-epitestosterone level "was a shock as much to me as anyone else."

He said he would do everything he could to clear his name.  "I'm going to do my best to defend my dignity and my innocence," said the American who rides for the Swiss-based Phonak team.

Armstrong, who has himself been dogged by doping allegations that he has consistently denied, spoke to the Los Angeles-based King on the broadcast by telephone.

"Obviously, I was very surprised," Armstrong said of Landis's positive result, which has yet to be confirmed by a B sample test.

"I was at the Tour. I watched Floyd... I thought it was unlike anything I've seen in cycling - and I mean that in a good way."    But Armstrong acknowledged the affair was a blow to cycling.

"Although I still believe in Floyd and believe him to be innocent, it's not good for cycling," Armstrong said.

Armstrong said that there was never any suggestion during Landis's three years on Armstrong's US Postal team that the younger rider would be seduced by the lure of performance enhancing drugs.