Landis says his high testosterone is natural - Landis maintains doping innocence

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/28/06 | Mar Roman - ap

[NormsRevenge]

(AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)

In a file photo Floyd Landis celebrates on the podium after winning the 93rd Tour de France cycling race, in Paris, Sunday, July 23, 2006. Landis, whose stirring Tour de France comeback win was cast into doubt by a test for high testosterone, said he expects to prove his innocence.

[Mr. Mojo]

Landis says his high testosterone is natural

Natural for Americans, that is.

[jdm]

"We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case but a natural occurrence," Landis said Friday in his first public appearance since the doping test cast doubt on his title, one of the most stirring comeback wins in Tour history.

A natural occurrence right after Stage 17.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Male pattern baldness?

Do you think his testosterone is as high as Janet Reno's?

[llevrok]

Do you think his testosterone is as high as Janet Reno's?

But then Jan has Lance's missing testicle.

[MozarkDawg]

A natural occurrence right after Stage 17.

This is the first thing to hit me as well, reading his protestations here. Would you know, did he get tested before each and every stage, this only went *ding* at 17? Do you suppose he'll be able to dig up some endocrinologist who will explain that somehow the last hill or a tree in the road or whatever managed to increase his testosterone at that particular stage, not the others?? Hmm ...

[theDentist]

I had mine checked the other night... it was "Full".

[nickcarraway]

You can't take testosterone and get a one day boost, though. You'd have to be taking it for a while.

[nickcarraway]

You can't take testosterone and get a one day boost, though. You'd have to be taking it for a while.

[jdm]

"You can't take testosterone and get a one day boost, though."

Or a one-stage boost!

[JamesP81]

Landis says his high testosterone is natural - Landis maintains doping innocence

IOW, he's got more stones than the french, and they're mad about it.

[Gumlegs]

If they compared his testosterone level to French levels, it's no wonder it seemed abnormally high.

[Plutarch]

The thing is that testosterone would need to be used over time to have positive effects. His other tests were negative. If we assume he was using either a modest amount or none before Stage 16, slathering an increased amount 20 hrs before Stage 17 would have produced only a marginal recovery benefit. Hardly seems worthwhile to have risked.

The SJ Mercury quotes a French newspaper that the Carbon 13/12 ratio indicates an exogenous source, which isn't good for Floyd.

Floyd will probably be able to kick up enough dust to get off, or a light punishment. The UCI cannot be too enthused about throwing away a Tour and Champion over just one lil' whacky T/E ratio.

[vox_freedom]

Here's a link to a video of his press conference. He sounds convincing, at least to me.

San Luis Obispo news link Floyd Landis

[lainie]

Is there an allegation that he used something, which created the residual effect of a high testosterone level in the test? Is there such a drug? Yesterday, he said he drank whiskey the night before Stage 17. That's what my local radio newsbreak said, anyway.

[fredhead]

Of course he has a high level of testosterone....compared to the French who are so upset at being unable to win the Tour de France again.

But we all know the French have no balls.

No balls, no testosterone.
No balls, no medals.

[big'ol_freeper]

"Natural for Americans, that is."

Having lived in Europe for several years I can verify that there is a definite lack of testosterone in the male population over there.

[rovenstinez]

Maybe the French National Testosterone was spent at the World Cup?

[knittnmom]

Taranto had this to say in today's "Best of the Web": Only the French would consider the presence of testosterone in a man's system suspicious.