Landis May Forfeit Tour de France Win

AP - SFGate ^ | 9/20/07 | Eddie Pells

[SF Republican]

Floyd Landis lost his expensive and explosive doping case Thursday when the arbitrators upheld the results of a test that showed the 2006 Tour de France champion used synthetic testosterone to fuel his spectacular comeback victory, The Associated Press has learned.

[Vision]

You beat me by seconds.

[wideawake]

“Not only did we embarrass Marky Mark - we let down the Funky Bunch!”

[Vision]

Nothing in this story ever made sense, I’m glad it’s over I guess.

[stratboy]

As a former amateur cyclist, I could never understand why a cyclist would use steroids - a drug mostly used for adding mass. During this whole case the reason for steroids was never explained. Recently, however, I learned that steroids are good for recovery after intense physical efforts.

That impossible 30 minute gap he made up sure is easier to believe if steroids are involved.

I give up on this guy and all other cheaters - serve your 2 years, clean up, and try doing it right next time - Cheater.

[jess35]

From the article:

The majority repeatedly wrote that any mistakes made at the lab were not enough to dismiss the positive test, but also sent a warning. "If such practises continue, it may well be that in the future, an error like this could result in the dismissal" of a positive finding by the lab.

In other words, even with their incredibly sloppy practices, the lab results are credible in this case but they probably won't be in the future.

Uh, huh. Will the "crediblity" or the results be dependant on the nationality of the cyclist?

[fortunecookie]

Oh, sigh, I had really hoped he was innocent and tried to believe him. If it is indeed true (and the French have had their noses out of joint ever since Lance has been decisively owning ‘their’ sport), it’s a sad day for Tour fans, at least American fans. And allegations swirl around so many others, including Basso, Ullrich. Not Hincapie, though. Go George! They need to revamp the whole thing, start fresh.

[dfwgator]

In other words, the test results were “fake, but accurate.”

Where have we heard that before?

[fortunecookie]

Uh, huh. Will the "crediblity" or the results be dependant on the nationality of the cyclist?

It certainly seems so, at least for Americans and American teams.

"If such practises continue, it may well be that in the future, an error like this could result in the dismissal" of a positive finding by the lab.

The French don't seem even the slightest bit bothered by the abject sloppiness of their whole inquisition investigation.

[Cagey]

It was high levels of testosterone in Landis’ case that did him in.

In the case of steroids that add muscle mass it sure helps make those mountains easier when you have a 28” waist and glutes the size of a Sequoia tree. The extra ten pounds of muscle the steroids built only helps them climb better.

This was the first year in many that I didn't even follow the tour. It is a shame.

[moonman]

I beat this thread by 6-6 minutes but it was pulled.

[Gator101]

I don’t know who to believe any more...it just seems like one big mess. This has got to be just killing the sport though.

[Vision]

steroids are good for recovery after intense physical efforts.

You're the first person I've heard say that synthetic testosterone can have immediate results as would have been required in Landis's case. Everything else said this drugs took weeks to work.

[SF Republican]

I think the French have a saying “Lying is just talking”

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["...the 2006 Tour de France champion used synthetic testosterone to fuel his spectacular comeback victory.."]

There's a shocker!

[Yo-Yo]

You beat me by seconds.

Then have him tested for steroids!

[Steve_Seattle]

"That impossible 30 minute gap he made up sure is easier to believe if steroids are involved."

He didn't make up a 30 minute gap. I believe he was 8-9 minutes off the pace before that stage, and made up about 7-7 1/2 minutes of it. He made up the rest during the final time trial.

The guy who made up 30 minutes in one stage was Oscar Pereiro, who finished second and will probably be named the winner. Both in the case of Pereiro and landis, you can argue that much of winning gap was of poor strategy by the rest of the peloton. (Periero was not alone when he made up the 30 minutes; I believe he was part of a breakaway of four or five riders, that the peleton carelessly let go.)

[nickcarraway]

How can taking steroids for one day have any impact on the next day's performance. This has never made sense, because taking a sterois for a single day, would not impact one's performance.