Embattled American cyclist Floyd Landis underwent surgery on his injured right hip in San Diego, Ca on Wednesday. The operation lasted two hours, and Dr. David Chao, who has operated on Landis twice in the past, declared it a success.
Landis announced during the Tour de France in July that the broken hip he sustained in a crash while training in January 2003 near his home in Murietta, Ca., caused avascular necrosis. The disease resulted from decreased blood flow to the head top of his right femur and caused progressively increasing pain as the joint deteriorated over time. The surgery revealed greater damage to Landis' hip than initially shown in MRI screenings, but was performed successfully and without complications.
Landis has returned home now, and will spend the next six weeks strengthening and increasing the range of movement in his hip. He will be able to start low intensity riding in one to two weeks. Whether he can return to top level competition will depend not only on his recovery, but also on the outcome of his doping case after he tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone during stage 17 of the Tour. If found guilty, the soon-to-be 31 year-old faces up to a two year ban from the sport and a four year ban from riding for a ProTour team.
September 28, 2008 - Landis takes case to US federal court
September 10, 2008 - Landis signing with current Health Net-Maxxis team for 2009
July 1, 2008 - CAS delivers final blow to Landis legal challenge
June 30, 2008 - Landis loses final appeal
June 28, 2008 - Landis decision due Monday
March 12, 2008 - Landis' judgment day nears
October 21, 2007 - Landis files appeal with CAS
October 18, 2007 - AFLD takes another look at Landis case
Thursday, October 11 - Landis continues fight, appeals to CAS
Saturday, September 22 - UCI officially names Pereiro 2006 Tour champion, Landis case raises issues
Friday, September 21 - Landis' appeal denied, two year suspension levied
