Landis planning cycling comeback

Disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis is planning to make a return to the sport when his two-year doping ban ends at the start of next year.

The 32-year-old American was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France victory after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone.

His suspension expires on 30 January, 2009 and he is looking to return to a team run by Momentum Sports Group.

"We are in negotiations for 2009," said team director Mike Tamayo.

"But as of yet we have not signed a contract."

Landis has maintained his innocence since the positive test, blaming mistakes in the testing procedure by the French laboratory for the result, and has battled to clear his name.

But last year the American Arbitration Association upheld the two-year punishment, which was handed down by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

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And in June, Landis - the first rider in Tour history to be stripped of the title for a doping offence - lost in his bid to overturn the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

After the verdict, Landis said: "I am looking into my legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed."

Landis has served as an adviser for US team Rock Racing, but rumours that he might race for the team never materialised.

And the news of Landis' impending return comes a day after seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong announced that he was coming out of retirement.

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