Landis +. Not a surprise....

What a sickener. Assuming it is upheld (as these things tend to be) this is another blow to the sport.

Just as a point of detail, I wonder if it is likely that he used illegal drugs from one stage to the other to acheive his remarkable fightback, that would be a) stupid and b) physiologically implausible. It is far more likely he had been using it during training and just happened to get tested at that point in the race. Testosterone metablolism is affected by anabolic steroids.

Bruce

I never warmed to him during the race, and would like to see him stripped of the Yellow Jersey if proved true.

He should then be made to hand it to the rightful winner, Oscar Pereiro, in full view of the world's press and then kicked out of sport for good.

Jono

quote:

and then kicked out of sport for good.

...just never seems to happen though does it?

What I would wish for is that he actually owns up, and exposes how it happened and who else was involved. Eventually the implicit collusion of these teams and athletes has to be exploded, genuinely alienating those who cheat rather than striving to emulate them by doing it better.

Bruce

That's a bit premature; the B test has not yet been done. Cycling seems to be the only sport where you are guilty until proved innocent.

Nigel, I did say that is assuming the result is confirmed. I think most fans have a similar reaction to a positive A test though, cycling deserves to be more sensitive than most I reckon, not least as this year the Tour started under a cloud but thought it had a winning hero.

I just wish somebody would react when 'caught' without producing the inevitable series of arcane physiological, biochemical and semi-mystical explanations (other than the obvious one) that always seem to follow.

One US cyclist was found with somebody else's blood cells in his system as picked up by DNA testing. He alleged he was a true chimaera, carrying the DNA of his twin who had died in utero.

Another famous case involving a weightlifter pointed out that for the urine sample he provided to have actually been produced by him (rather than from the little bag of urine he had stuffed in his shorts) then he would indeed be a remarkable man-the test showed he was pregnant. He was banned but his coach and her husband were apparently delighted!

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
Another famous case involving a weightlifter pointed out that for the urine sample he provided to have actually been produced by him (rather than from the little bag of urine he had stuffed in his shorts) then he would indeed be a remarkable man-the test showed he was pregnant. He was banned but his coach and her husband were apparently delighted!

That actually could be his urine. When people come off steroids they often inject HCG as a leutenising agent to stimulate their natural production of testosterone. HCG in urine is what is tested for in a pregnancy test so if a man injects himself with HCG he will produce a fals positive on a pregnancy test

quote:

One US cyclist was found with somebody else's blood cells in his system as picked up by DNA testing. He alleged he was a true chimaera, carrying the DNA of his twin who had died in utero. Roll Eyes

Saw that explanation in a episode of CSI: Vegas so it might be true, get Gil Grissom on to it - he'll sort it out.

I would have thought that excessive levels of testosterone would have been patently obvious in those lycra shorts. Know what I mean?

Cycling has always had cheating problems.
Maurice Garin was disqualified in 1910 for taking a train on part of the route !!!

If it is confirmed that he is guilty I hope he receives a lengthy ban. I detest drugs in all sports and just feel saddened The Tour de
France is tarnished once more.I had a discussion with a friend at work,a keen sporting
enthusiast,who said " You will always get sportmen cheating somehow or other and it wouldn't harm the prestige of the sport or event involved " I tend to disagree......

Trevor

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:
I would have thought that excessive levels of testosterone would have been patently obvious in those lycra shorts. Know what I mean?

Taking testosteron makes 'em shrink actually.

Landis came, saw and conkered. heh heh.

Not guilty. The man is Mennonite for goodness sake! If it were another high profile 'former' tour rider, I would not be so sure.

Although stage 17 was 'miraculous,' high levels of testosterone would not have had such an 'immediate' impact on his performance. Lets wait for the B sample.

Cortizone shots for his hip and alcohol could also elevate testosterone levels me thinks.

I blame it on his wife. She ignored the 'no nookie' between stages ban.

Geez, I thought it was just the French that were tired of Americans winning "their" race...
David

quote:

Geez, I thought it was just the French that were tired of Americans winning "their" race...

They could ban all foreign riders and still not win it!

And theres more:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jul06/jul31news