Landis gives positive drugs test

BBC News ^ | 07/27/2006

[Republicain]

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has given a positive drugs test, according to his Phonak team. The American, who claimed victory in the Tour de France on Sunday, has tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone.

The positive test came after stage 17 of the Tour, which saw Landis record an epic victory after collapsing on the final climb the day before.

Landis has been suspended pending results of his B sample analysis.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Wednesday that a rider had failed a doping test but would not reveal his name.

"The Phonak Cycling Team was notified on Wednesday by the UCI of an unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France," said a team statement.

"The team management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological result."

[RSmithOpt]

Thanks for the clarification.....I had a 50/50 chance of getting it correct, however, do all (100%) males respond in such a manner?

[commish]

Austin Murphy of Sports Illustrated has talked to Landis, and says that Landis is determined to prove he is clean.

FLOYD DENIES CHEATING

Among the interesting tidbits. Reporters have forced Landis mother to leave the family farm and go into hiding.

Landis revealed that in addition to the Cortisone injections he also takes a daily medication for his thyroid. His doctor's speculate that the 2 things combined may have helped raise his Testosterone level.

Landis also said he is not very hopeful the B test will exhonorate him, he instead is planning on fighting the result, and points out that all challenges to this test have been successful. He will submit to endocrine testing etc, to show that the result is not abnormal for him.

[Eurotwit]

Thanks for the article commish.

What do you think of this whole deal?

I hope and pray for Landis and for the sport of cycling that it will prove to be a false alarm.

Cheers.

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

Phonak confirms Landis rider in question (VeloNews.com)

The Phonak Cycling Team issued the following statement Thursday:

The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday by the UCI of an unusual level of Testosteron/Epitestosteron ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France.

The Team Management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological result.

The rider will ask in the upcoming days for the counter analysis to prove either that this result is coming from a natural process or that this is resulting from a mistake in the confirmation.

In application of the Pro Tour Ethical Code, the rider will not race anymore until this problem is totally clear.

If the result of the B sample analysis confirms the result of the A sample the rider will be dismissed and will then pass the corresponding endocrinological examinations.

Please understand that we cannot at this time give you more detailed comments.

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

[Eurotwit]

Males do respond in this manner,

BUT, there can also be short time testosterone spikes brought on by for instance winning the stage.

I am sure that Floyd's testosterone levels rose significantly upon crossing the finish line.

Cheers.

[upier]

Evaluation of Testosterone/Epitestosterone Ratio Influential Factors as Determined in Doping Analysis


The ratio of the concentration of testosterone glucuronide to the concentration of epitestosterone glucuronide (T/E ratio) as determined in urine is the most frequently used method to prove testosterone abuse by athletes. A T/E ratio higher than 6 has been considered as proof of abuse in the past; however, cases of naturally occurring higher T/E ratios have been described. Since the introduction of the T/E ratio in doping analysis, the parameters that may or may not influence the T/E ratio, possibly leading to false-positive results, have been debated. To achieve more insight on the influencing circumstances, an overview is given to obtain an objective view on the merits of the urinary T/E ratio. Relevant analytical aspects of the T/E ratio, potential parameters of endogenous and exogenous origins, as well as some alternative methods to determine testosterone abuse, such as the urinary testosterone/luteinizing hormone ratio, gas chromatography– combustion–isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, hair analysis, and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, are discussed.

[RichardW]

I'm thinking that synthetic testosterone should be identifiable in the blood stream. And after a while it will also produce anti-bodies which is why the patches, etc., lose their effectiveness over time.

[RichardW]

I wouldn't bet the farm on that.

[funkywbr]

Yeah maybe he's was jerking off alot that causes that reading, cause they were saying an 8 minute catchup at that point was impossible.

Now we KNOW why it was possible.

What a JO that US bike rider was...

[vox_freedom]

Huh?

[DUMBGRUNT]

Any idea of how tight is the chain of custody?

[stylin_geek]

I read through the article where Landis says he's innocent.

Evidently, if the article is accurate, a bad test is a ratio greater than 4 to 1, with 1 to 1 being the "most likely" natural ratio.

It seems to me the only way to get a good baseline is to test a lot of people at random and check that baseline against a broad spectrum of athletes, or, perhaps, soldiers.

From the way the article is written, it leads me to believe there may be some holes in the statistical method by which the "normal" ratio is determined.

I bring this up, because the term "most likely" ratio leads me to think there isn't a good baseline to work from.

[Falconspeed]

Landis became suspicious when he totally lost Stage 16 and miraculously won Stage 17 with "the single greatest single-day effort in the history of the Tour" (Bob Roll). Plus, Landis did not have an immediate press conference when the news broke. His Christian parents are probably and hopefully praying a lot right now for a quick solution: give Oscar Pereiro the first place trophy, now.

[Steve_Seattle]

Given the pre-race disqualifications of Basso et al, wouldn't a high-profile rider like Landis have to be certifiably insane to use illegal substances during the TDF?

[vox_freedom]

Given the pre-race disqualifications of Basso et al, wouldn't a high-profile rider like Landis have to be certifiably insane to use illegal substances during the TDF?

I agree, but suggest the credibility the test is more questionable than Floyd's sanity. Why would he, in the midst (actually towards the end) of the race, while he was in the most prime position to win, take something that could be discovered and thereby jeopardize his victory. This doesn't make sense on several levels.

I am wondering if something he took for pain caused the physiology of his body to change and the testosterone with it. Given the "politics" of France and the situation against another American victory, I would not put anything out of the realm of possibility -- at least at this point.

[SupplySider]

Britney was a liar. Didn't she used to run on about her virginity and her squeaky clean, "good Baptist girl" lifestyle? The wheels sure fell off that fairy tale.

You're right. She went on TV and lied about her breasts, too. Never a good indicator of strong moral fiber!

[leilani]

Audio of Floyd's conference call with reporters is available at espn.com click on the "Give me a chance to prove I'm innocent" w/headphones icon. It's about 24-25 min long.

click here

[vox_freedom]

Thanks for the link, leilani.

[leilani]

No problem. I probably should have added that if you're the emotional type it might very well make you cry. Fair warning.

[Ready4Freddy]

Here's some hard copy from that press conference:

Landis: Stigma 'may never go away'

from the article:

Under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations, a ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone greater than 4:1 is considered a positive result and subject to investigation. The threshold was recently lowered from 6:1. The most likely natural ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in humans is 1:1.