Many would disagree with your statement. Mostly on the fact that the tests before and after the hot one were normal.
Lots of “odd things” were brought out in the next years fighting about the way samples were taken, tested and stored. Enough that a lot of changes were made.
Floyd's side raised enough questions that he would have been innocent in a jury trial. But the charge would have to stand or all Hell would have broken loose with other riders.
At least this years TdF was clean - so far.
re: Landis...
I’m a former racer and still a rider and a HUGE cycling fan. I defended the guys I liked for too long and then realized I was becoming an apologist.
I’ve read enough to know that if you use a testosterone patch, like Floyd was said to have done, your levels decrease pretty quickly (and of course were normal beforehand.)
I’ve become jaded. As you say, the TdF was clean this year - so far. They’re on the 2nd or 3rd gen CERA now and the tests are only catching the 1st - and that’s pretty much only when the rider/giver screws up.
I believe everyone is taking something to keep their hematocrits at the allowed level. Strangely, I don’t really think that’s cheating. I mean, I could go train at altitude for a month and raise my levels a few % points - and surely that’s not cheating. Or is it?
It’s such a mess... and such a great sport. Sigh.