Landis says his testosterone is naturally high, and he'll prove it

MADRID, Spain – Floyd Landis said he has naturally high testosterone levels, and will undergo tests to prove he is not guilty of doping at the Tour de France.

"We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case but a natural occurrence," Landis said today in his first public appearance since a positive doping test cast doubt on one of the most stirring Tour de France comeback wins in history.

Landis denied that he cheated in a teleconference Thursday, but said at the time he had no idea what may have caused his positive test for high testosterone following the Tour's 17th stage, where he made his heroic comeback charge last week.

Today he said that the high testosterone level is the result of his natural physiology.

"I would like to make absolutely clear that I am not in any doping process," Landis said. "I ask not to be judged by anyone, much less sentenced by anyone."

Landis is still awaiting results from a backup sample which, if negative, will clear him. If ultimately proven guilty, he could be stripped of the Tour title and fired from the team.

The Switzerland-based Phonak team will ask that the backup sample be tested in the next few days, manager John Lelangue said Thursday.

The team suspended Landis after the International Cycling Union notified it Wednesday that he had an "unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone" when his test was taken last Thursday, the day he staked his comeback in the Alps.