  By considering both the average structural parameters obtained from Rietveld
refinement of neutron powder diffraction data, and the local structural
parameters obtained from the atomic pair distribution function, we have tested
the recent hypothesis of Perry et al [Perry et al., Phys. Rev. B v.65, 144501
(2002)] that doping in La2-xSrxCuO4 system occurs as localized defects of
predominantly Cud3z^2-r^2--Opz character associated with the Sr dopants
accompanied by a local destruction of the Jahn-Teller distortion. While the
structural parameters behave qualitatively according to the prediction of this
model, a quantitative analysis indicates that doped holes predominantly appear
in the planar Cudx^2-y^2--Opx,y band as is normally assumed. However, a small
amount of the doped charge does enter the Cud3z^2-r^2--Opz orbitals and this
should be taken into account when theoretical phase diagrams are compared to
experiment. We present a calibration curve, p = x (1.00(1) - 0.45(7) x), for
the planarcharge doping, p, vs strontium content, x, for the La2-xSrxCuO4
system.
