Michael G. must be out doing something, so:
AP via Washington Post:
PARIS — Floyd Landis was fired by his team and the Tour de France no longer considered him its champion Saturday after his second doping sample tested positive for higher-than-allowed levels of testosterone.
The head of France’s anti-doping commission said the samples contained synthetic testosterone, indicating that it came from an outside source….
Update by Michael van der Galien
Thanks to Holly for posting this right after it came out. I wasn’t in a position to blog when the news broke.
This sample quite simply confirms the findings of the first test. In legal circles, this would simply equal a guilty verdict. Landis says that his body automatically produces hormones like this, but Pierre Bordry already dealt with that sufficiently.
I’m very sorry to say, but all of this proves that Landis is guilty. He can now try to prove his innocence (or mostly better said, try to find mistakes in the procedure, as in appeals in (normal) lawsuits), but 1+1=2: he’s guilty of using doping.
For the first time in the history of the Tour, a winner is now officially not regarded the winner anymore by the TdF organization. It’s a crying shame for this particular sport, for the sportsfans and for sports in general.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Landis no longer was considered champion, but the decision to strip him of his title rests with the International Cycling Union.
“It goes without saying that for us Floyd Landis is no longer the winner of the 2006 Tour de France,” Prudhomme told the AP in a telephone interview. “Our determination is even stronger now to fight against doping and to defend this magnificent sport.”
Phonak – Landis’ team – fired him immediately. That is the only right choice.
Even Greg LeMond (who supported Landis constantly) admitted:
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” three-time Tour winner Greg LeMond said by phone from the starting line at the Pan Mass Challenge in Sturbridge, Mass. “I don’t think he has much chance at all to try to prove his innocence.”
I don’t think so either. He has disgraced the sport.