Breaking: Floyd Landis tests positive for Illegal drug

[slowhand520]

Just heard this on the radio. Reuters reporting. No link yet

[MotleyGirl70]

Hi cyborg!

I'd say to them 'oh shaddap... this isn't a football or baseball game. Cut the macho crap!' ;-) Seriously, I hope this isn't true.

I fixed it for ya :)

I hope isn't true either.

[Petronski]

Why not start your own damn website?

[madison10]

The substance was Testosterone. The French don't know what it is and are claim it to be a foreign substance. They had to steal it from an American.

[Eurotwit]

Let us hope that the B-test shows that some mistake or other has been done.

Sadly though, with these news going around the world, Landis name will forever be tarnished to some degree.

Well deserved though if he is guilty.

But, I agree.

It would be wise to have a bit of patience, and hope and pray some mistake has been made.

I just got in and checked the net, and was shocked to find out that it was Landis who was the one rider that had tested positive.

[expatpat]

This would be the coup de grace, to use an old English term.

[leilani]

Sadly though, with these news going around the world, Landis name will forever be tarnished to some degree. No question. This stinks no matter if the B sample comes out or not. Maybe just not as bad?.....

[Eurotwit]

I would think that the way he is cleared (if he is) would matter. If it can be proven that some major mistake has been made, Landis could be quite fine. If he gets off on some weasely technicality it would be different.

So let's hope that some clear and demonstrable error can be proven.

[John W]

Well, the oldest item in what is supposed to a "Breaking News" sidebar is dated July 21st.So, maybe we could afford to work something such as this in.

[Petronski]

...maybe we could afford to work something such as this in.

We?

[newgeezer]

Got a burr under your saddle today?

[John W]

I contribute to sustain the place so I used the colloquial "we".

[Petronski]

I don't have a saddle. I also think it's very tasteless to use FreeRepublic to trash FreeRepublic.

[lainie]

I'm with Diddle E. Squat on this one.

[lainie]

*gasp*

giminy christmas. I find this news stunning. Just can't believe it.

What a f'ed up, crooked sport.

[Republicain]

This would be the coup de grace, to use an old English term.

Yes, very old... 1066 maybe ?

[nutmeg]

The substance was Testosterone. The French don't know what it is and are claim it to be a foreign substance. They had to steal it from an American.

LOL! ;-D

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

News links in #50

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I am still stunned if it is Landis and this occurred DURING the Tour AFTER 20 some cyclists were disqulified for doping, if true not only venal but remarkably stupid."

In the TDF, the rules stipulate that the winner of each stage plus the overall leader, plus a minimum of two randomly selected riders, MUST provide urine samples immediately after each stage. This was known to all the riders before the race. Under those circumstances, it is very difficult for me to believe that Landis would try to get away with something; it would be insane to try. I'm probably sounding like a conspiracy-minded liberal, but I am very suspicious of this. What controls are in place to guarantee that these urine samples aren't tampered with by someone hostile to the winner? I find it easier to believe that the samples were doctored than that Landis would try to get away with cheating in such a high-profile situation, where he knew he would be tested. And, of course, the third possibility is that the test is unreliable. The fourth possibility is that Landis's other meds caused a spike in his testosterone levels.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I think it's a pressure to perform to superhuman standards."

What these cyclists accomplish is beyond the ability of the average person to comprehend. These guys can maintain a faster pace for 120 miles than the average person can maintain for 3 minutes. And I think the word "doping" to describe what they do is very misleading; these people aren't druggies. The banned substances are basically hormones which many non-cyclists also take for a variety of reasons - to restore vitality, to give an energy boost, to restore sexual vigor, etc.

[cyborg]

I know there's a big difference between steroidal compounds and HGH. I wish that either the newsmedia would get it right OR that these sportsmen wouldn't have to use such large amounts or break rules. I like Landis but I hope he didn't do this.