A French anti-doping laboratory is reported to have found synthetic testosterone in seven “B” samples taken from Floyd Landis during the 2006 Tour de France.
Landis, who has long-criticized the procedures at the lab, immediately said a representative of his defense team was blocked from entering the lab to observe technicians perform some of the tests. See FloydLandis.com.
The follow-up tests were ordered by the US Anti-Doping Agency, which is preparing a case against Landis, who was found to have a high testosterone/epitestosterone ratio after one stage of the Tour de France.
Probably a surprise to no one, the results were leaked to the French newspaper L'Equipe, which appears to be the publishing arm of the Laboratoire National de Dépistage du Dopage. No one else has seen the results.
Upcoming hearing
The hearing in the case is due to being May 14 in Pepperdine. A loss at the hearing and in appeal would result in Landis losing his TdF championship and being banned from cycling for two years.
Trust But Verify blog has a running account of news stories and reactions.
The 31-year-old winner of the 2006 Tour de France gave urine samples seven times during the race. As I recall, the test for synthetic testosterone is only administered if a sample comes back with a high testosterone/epitestosterone ratio. Since only one of Landis's “A” samples had the high ratio, the synthetic testosterone test was only done on that sample.
B samples
Prosecutors for the USADA sought, and received, permission to test those others samples. Because the “A” samples have already been used, the French lab had to use the “B” samples and a doublecheck can no longer be done.
Landis said he would have preferred the tests be conducted at another lab, like the one at UCLA.
Landis is quoted at his website:
“This is yet another in a series of malicious actions by USADA that tramples my right to have my case heard in fair and just way. How can I be expected to prove my innocence while USADA endeavors to break their own rules at every turn? I’m infuriated by the behavior of USADA and the LNDD. Together, they have turned this proceeding into a full-scale attack on my civil rights and a mockery of justice.”
More knowledgeable coverage at BikeBiz.com.
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