For one, we need to reserve judgement until Landis' "B" sample is tested. He hasn't "flunked" a drug test until then (the unfortunate AP headline proclaiming just that is incorrect). Landis' overall level of testosterone was actually lower than normal - what was out of whack was the ratio between two types of testosterone in his body - and there is a possible naturally occuring reason for this. Or, he could have used illegal enhancers. The "B" test will tell us which one it is. But until then, despite what conclusions the ridiculous media might jump to, we need to keep an open mind.

Secondly, until you are a professional athlete with things like fortune, glory, a legacy, records, and millions of dollars at stake, I don't think you can make a claim like "I would never forgive myself if I did that." It's easy to play armchair QB from our moral high horse behind a monitor or television. It's not easy to sit by as other athletes are getting the fortune and glory and passing you by just because you choose to stay clean.

Note that I am not defending or justifying cheating. There's nothing worse than a cheat. But in Landis' case, the jury's still out and I believe in giving him his due process of testing two samples.

The other story is that the test is checking the ratio of testoserone to epitosterone ( I think). The issue is the ratio is not "within the norm". If the ratio is not in the "norm" then you are "guilty" of taking drugs. The test went through rigerous qualifing before it was put into use. Unfortunately, everyone is different, and they don't do extensive testing of people in differing race conditions taking differing supplements to help them make it through the next day.

The science of drug testing is not all that clear cut. So even if the B sample is so called positive, all that means is the T/E ratio is not right. It is INFERRED as a positive drug test. I don't endorse or support any specific position, except that just because WADA says it is a positive test for taking drugs I do not always believe it.

The way I understand it (and somebody correct me if I'm wrong), the rider who comes in first for the stage is always tested for illegal substances. Floyd would have been awfully stupid to think that he could get away with using synthetic testosterone if he planned on winning the stage (and the race). It just doesn't make logical sense to me that he would purposefully use any illegal substance knowing that he would be tested. That leaves open two possibilities (1) the sample was sabotaged, or (2) he might have been given the substance and not known that he was taking it.

Just food for thought. Comments welcome.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by runlifer08:
...and another biker caught blood doping...at least Lance knew how to not get caught! That's right I said it...Lance Armstrong used performance inhancers. How else would he beat everybody 7 years in a row! And don't give me that miracle story BS...#2, 3, 4, and 5 were all caught...he wouldn't have beat them if he wasn't. Is there no honor in sport anymore...I for one could never forgive myself if I used steriods, or blood doped, etc...just out of self-respect...could you be proud of a win if you knew it was unhonorably earned?<HR>

Hello again,

would you please change the title of this thread, it is pretty darned offensive. Thank you,
Gen
edited to add:

http://This message has been edited by RunGenRun (edited Aug-05-2006).

All I have to say is: Who the heck names their kid Floyd?

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Just wondering/speculating/looking for info and not prepared to pronounce the guy either innocent or guilty.... but is it possible, as punkie suggests, that his sample could have been sabotaged or that he could have been given the substance w/out knowing it?

Seems as if a lot of athletes who test positive don't fight it as hard as Landis is doing: which isn't to say he's innocent (could always be that he's deluded or that he is carrying on a huge public relations campaign on his behalf so as to create reasonable doubt in the public mind). But his absolute vehement denial that he's taken the drug does make me wonder if he really, in fact, believes he didn't take it, and if possibly someone could have tampered with the samples or spiked something he was drinking/eating.

Just wondering, that's all. While I'd like to believe he's innocent as he maintains, I also hope that the truth emerges, even if we don't especially like it.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by runlifer08:
Lance Armstrong used performance enhancers. How else would he beat everybody 7 years in a row! And don't give me that miracle story BS...#2, 3, 4, and 5 were all caught...he wouldn't have beat them if he wasn't.<HR>

First I heard Armstrong was caught for using illegal drugs?