Tour De France Winner tests positive

[tastytel]

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has failed a test for testosterone, a spokesperson for his team has confirmed.

Landis won the Tour in Paris on Sunday, having cruised through the final stage to beat Caisse D'Epargne's Oscar Pereiro by 59 seconds.

"He has tested positive for testosterone,'' a Phonak team spokesperson told PA Sport.

The positive test relates to stage 17 of the Tour, from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Morzine in the mountains. Landis won the stage by five minutes and 42 seconds from Carlos Sastra.

On Wednesday, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that one rider had returned a positive test, but did not name the individual.

Landis has failed his first analysis, and the result will have to be confirmed by a counter analysis.

A statement on the Phonak website read: "The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday (Wednesday) by the UCI about an unusual level of Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France.

"The team management and the rider were both totally surprised by this physiological result.

"The rider will ask in the upcoming days for the counter analysis to prove either that this result is coming from a natural process or that this is resulting from a mistake in the confirmation. In application of the Pro Tour Ethical Code, the rider will not race anymore until this problem is totally clear.

"If the result of the B sample analysis confirms the result of the A sample, the rider will be dismissed and will then pass the corresponding endocrinological examinations.''

Should Landis fail his counter analysis, the consequences could be severe. He is likely to face a ban and he could be stripped of his Tour de France win.

When asked if Landis could lose his Tour title, Enrico Carpani, a spokesman for UCI, told PA Sport: "We have only just released this (statement) two or three minutes ago.

"We have to await the final decision of the authorities.''

On Wednesday, Landis withdrew from the Chaam criterium in Holland, and he has since pulled out of the Grand Prix Jyske Bank race in Denmark.

"It is with great regret that we announce Floyd Landis will not be appearing in the race,'' Danish organisers said in a statement.

[legion]

Is this a joke?

Testosterone?

I expected to find a line about the French not being familiar with the substance...

[fastpat]

Where's the punch line?

[Flatbutt1]

more anti-American sentiment finding its way in?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
more anti-American sentiment finding its way in?

Doubtful, the guy was on the Swiss team, not an American team.

[hytem]

I understand much of the media has been misreporting this story--saying that Landis tested "high for testosterone."

According to the ESPN cycling expert I heard tonight, Landis' testosterone level was normal--but his epitestosterone level was very low, so that the ratio of testosterone/epitestosterone was high, not testosterone itself. He said he thought his low epi-- may be related to the high cortisone he was taking during the race for his hip. Low epitestosterone does not necessarily mean he was taking illegal drugs. They don't know what it means--haven't seen it before. It's a natural chemical in the body, and they don't know what would make it low.

Landis would be nuts to take illegal drugs during that race. Too bad about the apparent rush to judgement. They'll straighten it out eventually. Maybe they'll learn something.

[bryanthompson]

Like soccer, can we just all give one big yawn and get this over with?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by hytem
I understand much of the media has been misreporting this story--saying that Landis tested "high for testosterone."

According to the ESPN cycling expert I heard tonight, Landis' testosterone level was normal--but his epitestosterone level was very low, so that the ratio of testosterone/epitestosterone was high, not testosterone itself. He said he thought his low epi-- may be related to the high cortisone he was taking during the race for his hip. Low epitestosterone does not necessarily mean he was taking illegal drugs. They don't know what it means--haven't seen it before. It's a natural chemical in the body, and they don't know what would make it low.

Landis would be nuts to take illegal drugs during that race. Too bad about the apparent rush to judgement. They'll straighten it out eventually. Maybe they'll learn something.

Not only that, but taking anabolic steroids during the race would do absolutely nothing to enhance your performance.