04/23/24
October 12, 2006
Landis Posts Doping Defense: His website seems to be down right now, but I look forward to seeing what his claims are. This has been a story worthy of a soap opera.
posted by wisportcheese to other at 10:29 AM - 13 comments
Did Landis' group complain about any of these testing procedures when he tested negative earlier in the race?
posted by grum@work at 11:56 AM on October 12, 2006
Well, since the tests were negative, they probably didn't investigate the procedures being used.
posted by apoch at 11:59 AM on October 12, 2006
I much prefer Jim Litke's column basically saying Floyd's full o' poo and this is a last-gasp, desperation play. If he'd gone with the "everyone else was doing it so I did it just to keep up" defense, I think I would have forgiven him. But the OJ defense of throw-everything-you-can-against-the-wall-and-hope-reasonable-doubt-sticks is for the guilty.
posted by SummersEve at 12:19 PM on October 12, 2006
But the OJ defense of throw-everything-you-can-against-the-wall-and-hope-reasonable-doubt-sticks is for the guilty. That's just good legal strategy.
posted by bperk at 12:28 PM on October 12, 2006
o Demonstration of an unacceptable variation in sample testing results o Errors in fundamental testing procedure and protocol If result variations and procedural errors can produce the finding that the testosterone in his body was foreign, than ok. Other than, I'm not interested.
posted by garfield at 01:01 PM on October 12, 2006
I think this and the lance accusation is complete bullshit. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean they're cheating...for example one nutt Armstrong
posted by SDM at 02:24 PM on October 12, 2006
Seven replies and not one person has churned out the "French losers are just jealous" bullshit? Kinda surprised! Personally, I think Floyd is as guilty as hell, but more interesting to me is the fact the Ivan Basso was today cleared by the Italian officials. Unlike Landis, Basso never failed a test and neither did Jan Ullrich or Jose Enrique Gutierrez or Oscar Sevilla or any of the others who were implicated in the farce that is Operacion Puerto. You want injustice? There's your freakin' injustice. No failed test, no real evidence. Just innuendo and a bunch of "codenames". Shockingly badly handled.
posted by afx237vi at 04:17 PM on October 12, 2006
Floyd is guilty, okay. Does the fact that proper protocal was not followed strip him of his title as he claims? Yes, I don't care how the frogs did the test, if he was positive twice, he is not the winner. How do you explain quitting a stage and then coming back the next day to take the lead. Smells like trout to me.
posted by Psycho at 09:00 PM on October 12, 2006
Psycho, I haven't read all the information Landis is trying to use to clear himself, but the way the test was performed matters. If the test was performed incorrectly, in violation of established protoco, then there is no way to PROVE he tested positive twice. The protocols are supposed to protect against tampering and human error in testing. Irregularities in the process increase the risk of false positives. His performace that day was amazing, and there is a good chance he cheated, but if they can't prove it, they can't strip him off his title. His is champion until proven guilty.
posted by apoch at 11:01 PM on October 12, 2006
I agree with Apoch. There seems to be serious question if Landis ever really did test positive - the control numbers on both A and B samples don't match Landis! And the level of testosterone in his urine is actually low - its the epitestosterone that is out of wack - that suggests either poor lab technique or intentional contamination. I work in the pharma industry and am responsible for contracting a lot of studies with labs. I can tell you this - if any lab I worked with made this many mistakes in handling samples, I'd fire them in a minute.
posted by BikeNut at 08:25 AM on October 13, 2006
It seems to me that the French have an agenda here. Block out the big names (Ullrich, Basso, etc) before the race and MAYBE JUST MAYBE a Frenchman will win. It's only been some 15 years since they won their own race. As for Landis cheating, how hard would it be to contaminate his sample? They tried the same thing with Lance Armstrong just 6 months prior and ended up with egg on their face. Yes, he bonked out and blew his lead, then came back the next day and does the seemingly impossible. But, look at the facts, did ANYONE bother to chase him? They simply didnt take him as a serious threat in the tour and they paid for it. So now we can cry "Cheat" because everyone was too lazy to chase or even give half and effort that day
posted by deafoh at 09:09 AM on October 13, 2006
"It seems to me that the French have an agenda here." There you go, afx237vi.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:04 AM on October 16, 2006
Since the Landis website is being hammered here is the text: "Los Angeles, October 12, 2006 – Floyd Landis, 2006 Tour de France winner, has made public his case documents that use fact-based science to support his innocence in the alleged positive doping test of July 20, 2006. The following documents are available for download from http://www.box.net: * Attorney Howard Jacobs’ motion for dismissal, submitted to the Anti-Doping Review Board (ADRB) on September 11, 2006 * The complete World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) document package, inclusive of the testing information from Landis’ ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples * A PowerPoint presentation created by Arnie Baker, M.D. with specific reference to: o The details of the carbon isotope ratio test (CIR), demonstrating that the CIR conducted on Landis’ urine sample does not meet the WADA criteria for a positive doping test o Demonstration of an unacceptable variation in sample testing results o Errors in fundamental testing procedure and protocol Landis received notice on September 18 that the ADRB has recommended that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) move forward in the disciplinary process related to the cyclist’s alleged positive drug test. Howard Jacobs, attorney for Landis, has requested an open hearing by the American Arbitration Association to contest potential sanctions against the athlete. Landis, who underwent the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure on September 27, is fourteen days into a physical rehabilitation program and is steadily increasing strength and range of movement in his right hip. Doctors anticipate that he will be able to begin training in two weeks for the 2007 season, when he hopes to return to France to defend his Tour de France title. The case files can be downloaded by going to http://www.box.net, clicking “LOGIN” and using PublicAccess as both the Login and Password."