Don't make me prove it!
Posted on 07/31/2006 7:24:57 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Landis test shows he was three times over limit MICHAEL BUTCHER
IF THE result of the B sample expected today of Floyd Landis's urine confirms the A positive, he is likely to become the first Tour de France winner to be relieved of the title.
The International Olympic Committee laboratory at Châtenay-Malabry also carried out a carbon isotope test which confirmed that the testosterone present in Landis's body was not a product of his own system, but was synthetic. In other words, it was administered.
The lab also revealed the massive dose of testosterone in the winner's system. The test for testosterone measures the ratio between the naturally occurring epitestosterone to testosterone. The ratio in a normal person stands at 1:1. Landis's was a resounding 11:1. The acceptable limit has recently been lowered to 4:1.
The American is protesting his innocence, claiming that research will exonerate him and that he suffers from a thyroid condition. However, he has been tested dozens of times in the past, including six times on the Tour and never produced these results.
His team, Phonak, is standing by him, at least until the result of the B test becomes known, though they have suspended him in the meantime.
Landis is the eighth rider wearing the Phonak colours to be banned or suspended. Among those the company has already fired is Olympic gold medallist Tyler Hamilton.
Landis tested positive after his miraculous performance on stage 17 of the Tour.
The day before, a clearly distressed Landis had lost ten minutes in the mountains, but the following day, to general surprise, he got away from the peloton on the flat and continued to hold the differential he had built up in the mountains. All that remained for him to do was, as expected, win the time trial easily on the penultimate day and enter Paris in triumph.
"What I need to prove now," said Landis, "is there are variations in my testosterone-epitestosterone level that are out of the ordinary."
He has since let it be known that he drank a couple of beers and four whiskies the night before his surprising recovery in the Tour. If that is a strand of his defence, he might want to think again. US sprinter Dennis Mitchell tried the same argument in 1998, throwing in the added circumstance that he had also made love several times, all of which contributed to his high testosterone
Of course we know the French would never tamper with samples taken, right? Just to knock an American off the pedestal...
I don't understand in the climate of bicycle racing today, how ANYONE could think they could get away with doping. It's inconceivable. That's why there's a part of me that believes him. HOWEVER, if it was 3 times the limit...and he's been tested before so they know his normal levels...this is going to be extremely difficult to argue.
Don't make me prove it!
Crap.
Top Ten Floyd Landis Excuses
10. "High altitude in the Alps made daddy dizzy"
9. "Who can resist Balco's delicious 'spicy chipotle' flavor
8. "I was trying to impress Sheryl Crow"
7. "Uh...global warming?"
6. "The world hates Americans already, so does this really matter?"
5. "French bastards must have dosed my quiche"
4. "Wanted to give 'New York Post' excuse to run hilarious 'Fink Floyd' headline"
3. "Hulk no need excuse"
2. "Frankly, I'd rather be a disgrace than a loser"
1. "Screw you - - I'm Floyd ***damn Landis"
(I think it was on the Mike McConnell show on Friday on WLW, but I forget the expert who wsa on).
david letterman is an idiot. his brand of "humor" has to be the biggest con job in history.
The limit was recently lowered? From what?
6:1 I think. (when Lance was winning)
What is wrong with all these athletes? What on earth makes them think they're immune from drug testing, that they won't get caught? And if they're just stupid jocks who don't know any better, surely their coaches know. Gee, is it really great to win a major competition of some kind and then have the title yanked?
I saw his press conference, and I'm tending to believe him for now. I'm not so sure that the science behind this stuff is good enough to do what they're trying to do with it, with regard to the testing and analysis. I'm sure we'll get to see a good deal more though.
I read this this am, but this Scotsman report is a bit confusing - it is basically a rehash of the L'Equipe stories sourced from the leaker at the lab. Note they (Scotsman) refer to official results in the future tense.I just don't want readers to think that the lab has released the "B" report, if it hasn't yet. Have they?
No 'B' test yet. If I was Floyd I'd be looking into who gave him those four Whiskey drinks...
Letterman is a comedian??? I thought he was just an Indycar owner.
 |
Dude, get over it. So your bicycle racer let down the world's trust. It happens. The world still has those fat bottomed girls Queen would sing about! |
The thing to look for in the B test is not the ratio, but whether the testosterone is synthetic or not. If it natural occuring testosterone then he is off the hook.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
