NYT: New Finding Challenges Tour Champ Landis's Claim

[DeepModem Mom]

New Finding Challenges Tour Champ's Claim
By JULIET MACUR
Published: August 1, 2006

Tests performed on the cyclist Floyd Landis’s initial urine sample showed that some of the testosterone in his body had come from an external source, and was not naturally produced by his own system, according to a person at the International Cycling Union with knowledge of the results.

That finding contradicts what Landis has claimed in his defense since the disclosure last week that he had tested positive for an elevated ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone after his decisive performance in Stage 17 of the Tour de France.

During a news conference in Madrid on Friday, Landis said: “We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case, but a natural occurrence.” He explained that the testosterone levels throughout his career were “natural and produced by my own organism.”

Landis, a 30-year-old who captivated fans by become the third American to win the Tour, provided the urine samples at the center of his doping inquiry after winning Stage 17 in the Alps. He improbably climbed to third place over all after he had struggled and plunged to 11th the day before.

His urine sample provided after Stage 17 was divided into A and B samples. Confirmation of the A sample result is needed for any doping violation to occur. If the B sample comes up negative, the case is dropped. But the finding disclosed yesterday, based on a more sophisticated test, shows that Landis failed his initial screening and could be subjected to punishment because he had a prohibited substance in his body....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/sports/othersports/01landis.html?hp&ex=1154404800&en=17bc932fe506615c&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Kagemusha]

1. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

The testosterone being synthetic is immediately fatal to his cause.

[northzax]

5. yes, he is done

shame, really. but there you go. fork, meet Floyd.

[regnaD kciN]

7. I think Le Tour (and, maybe, pro cycling as a whole) is "done" as well...

After having the top two riders kicked out for doping violations before the start, the last thing the event needed was an even bigger scandal (and, most likely, the banning of the winner) at the end. It will be hard to take it seriously ever again.

:-(

[Kagemusha]

8. You could be right. I'm waiting to hear real reactions..

Because before today I think most Americans gave Landis a heavy benefit of the doubt and were willing to buy this just being more French jealousy and stuff. But anyone with a smidgeon of medical knowledge (even me) can understand the synthetic testosterone issue with ease.

I haven't taken it seriously for a while, incidentally.

[daleo]

2. Mr. Landis, urine trouble now. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Oh, that's a good one! nt

[Dudley_DUright]

4. I don't know whether to laugh or cry

:rofl::cry:

[NVMojo]

10. velly funny, daleo!

[Teaser]

6. Stink Floyd

nt

[global1]

9. Wouldn't It Make Sense To Let All The Riders Dope Up To....

even out the field again?

[northzax]

14. well sure, except

doped up cyclists have a nasty habit of dying. and the younger riders, the ones without the financial access to the good drugs, will drop like flies even more than they already do. not a good spectacle for the teevee when you have people dying on the course.

[global1]

15. Well If This Happens Maybe Even The NASCAR Crowd Will.....

get into bicycle racing. It could be a boon for the sport. Makes it more exciting. Just like watching the NASCAR crashes. Then we could have corporate sponsors. I can see all the logos on bicycles now. Think of how much money could be made on the teevee commercials for the 'doped-up cup' race - 'La Tour de Dope'.

I think we stumbled unto something here.

[wanpete]

11. To me, he looked defeated on Larry King last Friday night.

He didn't protest like someone who in no way took anything illegal. Just kinda looked like he was just crossing his fingers that somehow the second urine sample would be negative.

[Rex]

12. Maybe he can testify before Congress...Lord knows they will do

anything to keep from doing real work, LIKE STOPPING WWIII. Maybe he can wag his finger for the cameras. :eyes:

[Kagemusha]

13. What really saddens me about this is...

I ask myself, if Lance was clean as a whistle, how'd he win against all these dirty athletes? Was he just unique, or, was he just better at hiding it?

so either steroids are overrated or.. not. I don't know. Landis put in an incredible performance after a near-collapse, and I have no idea what role chemicals played in either.