Landis calls for Wiggins to be stripped of Tour title

Former US star claims report leaves WADA with no choice but to act

Floyd Landis has called for Sir Bradley Wiggins to be stripped of his 2012 Tour de France title in the wake of allegations made in a parliamentary report.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee’s report accused Wiggins, Team Sky and Sir Dave Brailsford of “crossing an ethical line” in applying for therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) for banned medication.

Wiggins has categorically denied cheating and has always maintained that he required the anti-inflammatory steroid triamcinolone to treat asthma and pollen allergies.

The DCMS report acknowledged that the use of TUEs in competition did not violate the World Anti-Doping Agency code, however it argued that it was their belief that drugs were used by Team Sky “to enhance the performance of riders, and not just to treat medical need”.

Landis, who lost the Tour de France title he won in 2006 following a positive drugs test, believes Wiggins should now be suspended and have his 2012 victory stricken from records.

The American was a former teammate of Lance Armstrong’s and initially denied doping before becoming the chief whistleblower in a federal case against cycling’s most recognised name.

“Wiggins should lose his Tour title,” Landis told cyclingnews.

“I can’t see how the sport authorities can let it slide. You can’t take them seriously if they don’t act. There’s a report right there for them and for me WADA have no choice but to suspend him and take his title away. If they were legitimate, that’s what they’d do.”

WADA have not yet responded to the report.

It is understood Team Sky are backing their under-fire boss Brailsford, yet Landis has also argued the DCMS report could spell the end for a team whose riders have won five of the past six Tours.

“This has to be the end of the team. I’m 100 % sure of that,” Landis added.