The UCI, the world governing body for cycling, announced that a high profile rider was guilty of using steroids.Speculation quickly has moved towards Floyd Landis because he has withdrawn from two races since his heroic win at the Tour de France.Landis’ own team, Phonak, has put a memo on its website saying Landis had high testosterone levels during the race.(I can see why his testosterone level is rising in the photo above!)
What does all this mean?Where in the world is Floyd Landis?Is he cleaning his system while in hiding?Can he really be so stupid as to use steroids while riding?The answers to all of these questions are sure to come out soon.
It means that an American may not win the title this year. It means that cycling is indeed the dirtiest sport on this earth. It means that Armstrong may have been right to dump Landis from his team. It means that Landis may never ride again. It means that if you cheat, you will eventually get caught. (Unless you are Bonds and Armstrong) My guess is that he is guilty. My guess is that he will blame all of this on his ailing hip. My guess is that his career is finished unless he somehow can prove he is innocent. Ulrich's team has already let him go sparking possible lawsuits. The plot thickens, as does the blood when taking EPO.
Ulrich is a one time tour winner and a five time runner up to Lance Armstrong.Basso, another strong contender during Lance’s heyday, is also suspected by the UCI.One thing you can say about Lance, even if he did use steroids, he was never caught.Sounds a lot like Barry Bonds!
SoCalSportsFan
*Since posting this report, more has come out about Landis positive test. We now know that team Phonak has suspended him until his second sample can be tested. I also find it ironic that they will not come right out and say Landis tested positive for steroids until his second sample is checked, but in the case of Armstrong, he was accused without the second sample. Granted, they can never test his second sample because all of his samples were used up in their ongoing witch hunt.
Also, interesting to note, Landis' mother said she would be very disappointed in her son if he did steroids, but she understands the temptations are out there. These are devout Mennonites and very hard working people. I hope Landis is innocent, but this case is snowballing fast and it is beginning to look like an avalanche.*
I got the breaking news on my radio show before ESPN and Foxsports posted it. Not a surprise, but seeing the pic of him drinking champagne and then a pic of him looking as if he just crapped his pants hit me quick.
I'm not surprised especially when I heard that he is probably going to have to have hip replacement surgery. I thought to myself, how can someone whose hip is so bad that he is going to have hip replacement done, ride in this race and even win it. I was glad at the time that an American won it but questioned it even more when Landis was the one to do it.
Dan, Pat, Pipsy, it is a sad day for American riders. France already looks at America and hates us for dominating their race in the last 15 years, but this is one black eye that will be hard to recover from. It is not only American riders using, but we happen to have won it for the past 8 years.
showing my ignorance here...but i have to ask..is there a difference between testosterone and steroids? or does a high testosterone level automatically mean steroid use?
as for the speculation on landis because he withdrew from 2 races following the TDF...did everyone forget that he was taking time off for his hip replacement?
i'm not saying he's innocent or guilty, but it sure seems like if you win the TDF, are an american, and they couldnt nail lance armstrong, you're going to be first on the list of the accused.
Cuz, if you have an unusual spike in testosterone, you either took a steroid or have a tumor on your Adrenal gland. There is no natural reason for his testosterone to spike on day 17
As far as missing, they mean he can not be contacted and has not given an official word, just his team.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on July 27th at 10:32 AM.
ESPNEWS just reported that when a 2nd test is ordered for similar positive tests, almost always the result is a negative so this story isn't finished yet. Apparently the test isn't very reliable.
In other words, if it suits them he'll get a reprieve. Conspiracy theorists unite!
0First, Landis could compete with a hip that is bad because cycling is pracitcally a no impact sport, therefore its not hard on the joints.
Second, yes I said sport. Anyone who says that cycling isn't a sport obviously has no clue what they are talking about. Try it once for one day on a real racing bike, on a real course, at even a medium speed and you will know what I mean when you wake up the next morning or when your sucking wind on the side of the road waiting for you wife to come pick you up.
Third, as in any sport, there is no room here for a cheat. I can't wait to see Landis end his career with his title taken away and a two year suspension that will end his hopes of ever competing in anything but a charity ride ever again.
Curler, sorry I didn't mean to say these guys weren't athletes. Maybe I should have just left it as "we would hardly consider cycling if an American were not winning."
It's largely a European sport, albeit with a growing interest in America. I don't think the Europeans follow MLB or NFL much either.
Last edited by hogfan480618 on July 27th at 11:37 AM.
Oh Lord, another one!? *shakes head* we are surrounded by cheaters...lol. What has sports come to in this country? If you consider riding a bike a sport. Can we play anything anymore with out someone cheating?
I do hope this "person with the testes spike" is not him, I really do.
Just for the record if those 2 blondes were putting clothes on me I would have more than a rise in testosterone!
Socal, please don't categorize Bonds and Armstrong together anymore. Their circumstances are so completely different. Maybe it's time I write a post detailing this huh? Hopefully then you can get off Armstrong's case.
Hoffman, why should I leave Armstrong alone. He does have one positive test while Barry has none. That is a fact that no one disputes. Armstrong's beef is it is impossible to clear his name without another sample and according to UCI, you have to have two samples to confirm before you declare someone guilty. I like that rule, but it does not change the fact that Armstrong does have one positive test from 1999. Cry all you want, but in my book, Lance and Barry are one and the same. The best in their sport and both possibly have used steroids. Note I said possibly for both of them as it is unproven.
As for writing a post, please do. I will enjoy reading it and commenting on your site.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on July 27th at 12:23 PM.
Socal - Barry very much does have a positive test. But there's a catch. When Balco sent in a sample from bonds to see if they were tainted, Conte urged the lab to remove Bonds name and replace it with Greg Anderson's. That test came back positive. That came from "Game of Shadows."
But I do see your point.
Cuz - many athletes take an estrogen supplement to keep their levels from getting so high that their body completely stops producing testosterone.
High Testosterone levels doesn't automatically mean you took steroids and he would have had to take steroid for a extend period of time. Though it does dramatically increase your muscle mass fast it doesn;t do it that fast, so I doubt the reason to take steroids in the middle of a race because it really won't turn you into a superman overnight.
It is possible he may have took Tribulus which is a plant extract which boost testosterone levels but this is not banned by any world competition.
Good post. Yeah, I too hope that he is not guilty of doping or using a banned performance enhancing drug.
I will have to wait for more information before providing analysis. For example, is it possible for a guy to produce abnormal testorone levels similar to the way Andre The Giant had an abnormal pituatary gland?
Landis says it was medication for a "thyroid" condition that may have triggered the high testosterone level. But was this scenario contrived before or after he consulted with his lawyers and their doctors?
Come on, Floyd...
That's the best you can come up with?
If you're taking medication for a thyroid condtion, why not declare it at the start of the race?
And why didn't it show up before you made your legendary run in Stage 17?
I'm gullible so hit me with your best shot...
Last edited by MeanDovine on July 27th at 2:15 PM.
Medication for a "thyroid" condition??? Please, next we are gonna hear that Floyd never actually took any mediation, but it was actually an ointment that he used from his trainer that he had no idea of the ingredients or what they did. Give me a break!!!
Landis: When I heard you won the Tour, I couldn't have been happier, but now I know nothing would make me happier than to see that title stripped.
After he won I told myself,"Please don't let some doping allegation spoil this great story". BAM--Here it is.
Let's hope the second test comes back negative but even if it does we will never hear the end of it. Yet another sporting event is spoiled by scandal. It seems no major event can avoid being tainted in some way, whether Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Cup, and now Tour De France.
Couldn't this just be the French pissed off again that an American won? I mean they will print anything over there. Then in return, we have to report on it. My verdict is out. I smell another witch hunt, so I will hold off on my judgement on him. We will wait to see!
Like one of the people above, I said to myself ad Floyd was putting on the Jersey, "I hope you are ready for the allegations that are about to start."
Apparently he, like some of you, was naive enough to think that were just going to _give_ an American the title and let it go. It's funny, he can win other tours and races all over Europe and nothing is ever said, but put a yellow jersey on an American in France and he has to be cheating.
The one thing I want to know, also pointed out by someone, you can't just inject youself early in the morning with this stuff and get a benifit from it for that day only. So why only Stage 17? Why not before the race, after the race or any other stage? I'll tell you why, because that's the one where they could make it believable and plausible because of his comeback in that particular stage. I don't think it would be there for only one day. Don't forget he won another stage before that and nothing showed up. I'm sure the winner of every stage gets a test.
It's also an interesting note that a skewed testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (what is in question here) is OK in cycling apparently. Cycling allows a 4:1 ratio where 1:1 is normal for most humans. And even beyond that, until this year, they allowed a 6:1 ratio. So what does that mean?
If you've read anything in depth about what Lance has gone though with the WADA, you know it was all a witch hunt. Lance was accused of using EPO, blood enhancing stuff, not steroids. Lance didn't drop Landis either. Landis left to head up his own team.
Last edited by GhostRyder on July 27th at 3:23 PM.
the problem I have is that other cycling experts on ESPN, who support Landis I might add, are skeptical of Landis and not the testing, e.g., Greg Lemond. Greg said the testing has been around for years and that if anything, the world cycling body that governs testing hasn't caught up with the pharmaceutical companies yet.
Look, I hope Landis is not guilty, but once he pinned this thing on a thyroid condition, he almost admitted guilt by giving himself an alibi.
If you're not guilty, your're not guilty. Just say so, with no caveats, and let the process run its course.
If anything, I think the French knew beforehand, but waited because they wanted to cast even more aspersion on Lance's great run by intimating that, "here is yet another American caught cheating."
Last edited by MeanDovine on July 27th at 3:31 PM.
You just can't trust anyone in sports anymore and instead of enjoying the accomplishment, we have to question if the person used performance enhancing drugs or not.And it's just sad that the sports world has come to this.
Sidd please, French scandal?? The great big gaping hole in that conspiracy theory is the fact that the organization that runs basically all drug testing in world level sports is USADA, the United States Anit-Doping Association.
Stick to the facts, Landis has already given a reason why the "inconsistency" was found in his drug test and said that he won't be surprised when test two comes back positive. Let's not give the French any more credit than they deserve here.
On a side not, I am new to this, how do I change my display pic? An answer is greatly appreiciated.
Sorry guys, but you can get a spike in testosterone from an injection. I agree you will not get the muscle mass from one injection, but your levels will go up, psychologically you will feel like you can do more, and physically you feel stronger. LIke the patch for impotent men.
I might add that cyclers are rarely after muscle mass anyway. Testosterone does not add muscle in and of itself, it takes working out in addition to the steroids. Cyclers crave oxygen for their muscles, but testosterone also helps men in other ways. As for the thyroid, that is just a ruse.
Lastly, the French do hate anyone who takes their tour and especially if they think he cheats. They did not hate Greg Lemond. I do think it is a witch hunt on Armstrong, but chances are he is guilty too.
Rec, BArry has never tested positive period. Game of Shadows may say it, but until he does and it is recognized as his, he hasn't. Just like Lance tested positive, but it is not accepted until a second test. You can claim he tested positive all day long, but every organization recognizes Barry as clean until proven guilty hence, no suspensions. If you are going to cite a source, don't cite a novel, find the actual lab who is willing to stand behind it. To this date, no one has except some authors making a buck.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on July 27th at 6:44 PM.
i have to admit, i've heard a few different theories between espnradio, espnews, and sportscenter. my favorite was the one about the beer he drank the night before he made up that 7 1/2 minutes, absorbing into his stomach wall, causing the change in testosterone RATIO. i'd like to point that part out if i may...from what i understood, it's not that his testosterone level was way up, it was because his epi-testosterone level was down, causing the RATIO to be off the charts. even funnier was when doug gotlieb, who by the way was filling in for dan patrick again today, said if beer makes your testosterone level go up, every man should go get drunk....what a ####. i kinda sorta used to like him, but he's really looking foolish lately, especially since he is trying to talk about sports and issues not related to basketball. anyway, just thought i'd share that info, in case it hadnt been put out there yet.
Cuz, the reason the epi is low is because of the increase in testosterone. It is a ratio. The hormones in our body often work in a complimentary system. When our sugar levels go up in the bloodstream, then our bodies make insulin. When its too low, our bodies make glucagon. Adrenaline, noradrenaline. That is the way it works. His testosterone was up, but we don't know why. It is a clear indication of some abuse, we will see.
all i'm saying is what i heard today. unless i misunderstood....i'm pretty sure the guy was saying his testosterone level was the same, but his epi-testosterone level was lower than normal, causing the unbalanced ratio. maybe i just wasnt paying close enough attention to it.
You are missing the point. It is the ration that must be the same no matter what the actual levels are. Are bodies are amazing. It is a process called homeostasis which balances everything from our temperature to our alkalinity of our blood. If this balance changes for any reason, something is up. There are of course normal ranges, but an 11:1 ration is way out of the norm. In cyclers, they even allow a higher than average norm becaues they train and push their bodies to the limit. If his ration was that high, he is guilty of something. The question is will his second sample yield the same result. If it does, he will have the title stripped from him.
i dont think i'm missing the point. i'm obviously just seeing it from a different perspective than you are. you're automatically assuming he's guilty of doping, while i'm at least considering the 11:1 ratio could be the result of some completely innocent factor. perhaps it was the cortizone shots, the alcohol he drank, or a combination of the 2....and i have to agree with what i just heard about an hour ago on espnradio....if the guy knows he's going to be tested, how stupid would he have to be to take something beforehand? if the guy is guilty, he's guilty, but the whole thing seems a bit fishy to me.
But isn't the whole point of steriods, or other preformence enhancing drugs, to increase your testosterone? I mean i agree with you, an Eleven to one ratio is definetly weird, but it doesn't look like he took steriods.
Exactly, we are talking about a ratio here. The original API release straight off the wire indicated only an "unusual ratio". Deliberately vague just to set the media off (which it did) and to tarnish his win irrevocably (which it did). Now, no matter what happens with this second test, his win will be tarninshed. From what I read and from what I heard Landis say today in his teleconference, when he said he wouldn't be surprised if test sample B came back positive as well, he was saying he had no faith in the process so therefore he wouldn't be surprised.
I was absolutely waiting for this to happen. Lance was untouchable but this guy isn't.
It just makes no sense to me that he would even try it. It doesn't just go out of your system that quickly. I'd be interested to know how all the ones after stage 17 didn't come up "positive" as well if he did in fact take something illegal.
Last edited by GhostRyder on July 27th at 9:06 PM.
Dang brother - you are on a record pace for posts here lately! You are without question the man!
Not much more to add here that hasn't already been said by those more in the know than I, but the sap in me wants to believe he's innocent just as I want to believe in Reynolds. I geuss I am too much the optimist.
Great job always being the first to hit the hard subjects.
Cuz, I am not saying you have no right to an opinion nor do I even think you need to agree with me. Blogs would be boring if everyone agreed. What I am saying is this is the test they give all the time to cyclers to show if they are using or not. The ratio is marker. He either did something, or it was a false positive. My personal beliefs mean nothing. I like Floyd as I also Like Lance and wish they were clean. Chances are, they aren't. Most cyclers use steroids the same way most body builders that are in competition use steroids. It is a huge part of the industry.
Thanks Burger.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on July 27th at 9:30 PM.
socal- nor am i saying you are wrong or shouldnt have an opinion, i just didnt think i was getting my opinion across clearly. basically, i have trouble believing this accusation in large part because of the failure to nail lance armstrong. plus, from what i know about the mennonite society in general, this doesn't seem like something that would be accepted, much less practiced. then again, i don't think they're perfect angels either, from some of the things i've witnessed living near a few (compared to PA and OH) of them.
the other thing is, i admit i dont quite understand all the medical mumbo jumbo being tossed out, so there's a chance i'm just misinterpreting what i've been hearing on the subject.
Cuz, I agree that you would not expect this from a Mennonite family, but you have to admit, the Mennonites do not approve of Floyd even on a bike racing, flying overseas, or drinking champaigne. His parents could not stop him from moving to CA when he turned 18, nor did they approve. Floyd is not your typical Mennonite, except for his extraordinaire work ethic.
Last edited by socalsportsfan on July 27th at 10:34 PM.
i'm glad i wasnt taking a drink when i first learned he was a mennonite, because it would have been all over the windsheild in my car, and i'm sure i would have gone in the ditch. without getting into detail, i've seen some pretty anti-religious/humanitarian things done by the mennonites around here, so i guess it wouldnt be completely out of the realm of possibility if landis did do this, although i've never heard of anyone in the mennonite community being involved with drugs....shoot, the ones around here dont even like advil, prescription glasses or soap.
There is a difference between being raised a mennonite, and practicing the religion. His parents obviously are devout, but Floyd has renounced his parents religion. He races on Sundays, drinks, and I bet he takes an advil every now and then. As for Landis, I hope he is clean and I hope his second test exhonerates him. Cycling is a dirty sport and this should not suprise anyone. So many of the big names were knocked out this year because of doping allegations and Lance was lucky nothing ever stuck to him.
yeah, i think the mennonite community, as well as the amish community, are losing alot of the younger generation these days. they allow them a certain amount of time to "test the waters" of how the rest of the world lives. the temptations are often too much to pass up, and they decide not to go back to the simplistic way of life. but the ones around here that i know at least put on a front of being very religious. as for landis, it's obvious he not only left behind his family, but also alot of the guidelines they lived by. i'd like to see him found innocent, but i think it's unlikely. and i still believe he became a target partly because they couldnt nail armstrong, and he happened to be another american winner. if that's the only reason, it's pretty pathetic on the part of the UCI, or whoever was trying to stick it to armstrong.
socal, thanks for the love on my blog, I think it is the first time I have rec'd comments from you and I think you are one of the most respected blogomaniacs. I posted some more picutre, and I dont care what party you are with, I am just having fun. Thanks man, have a good night. It is my first and last political blog.
The WADA (World Anti Doping Association) was the group trying to nail Armstrong along with a French cycling magazine. The WADA wasn't even around in 1999 so they had no authority. Several years later the magazine used fraud and deception to obtain samples from 1999 and ran their own tests at a WADA sanctioned lab. All of these samples had previously passed inspection. The lab admits they didn't adhere to normal protocols when they did their tests but claims they were pressured by the WADA. Ironically the UCI commisioned their own report and back Lance 100%.
What bugs me is this is being reported my most news outlets that Landis tested positive for high testosterone. That is a complete mirepresentation. The RATIO was off. His testosertone could be the same as your or mine and still have an out of whack ratio. I'm going to need a lot more information before I'll believe he's guilty.
Last edited by GhostRyder on July 27th at 11:03 PM.
i cant take any sport seriously that bans caffein. i just cant. i dont care if they all cheated. were i him, i'd have said i was using steroids under a doctors care to strengthen muscle in my dying hip.
of course he cheated, its the american way. before anyone jumps on my back about saying that, i say it with the upmost pride. we always find a way to win, against all odds. we dont bother with simple things like rules or laws. we change our laws when it suits us. thats what we do. i cheat at every game i play. its your job to catch me.
this is a bad example for the kids, but not the worse. our lifestyles set us up for things like this. before laying it on him - and i'm not saying your are socal - we should reconsider our current lifestyles. no one can look at the recent history of america and see anything different. what i dont understand is how we always seem suprised when someone's caught. who here WOULDNT cheat for a couple million dollars if they were sure they wouldnt get caught? true analysis can only begin once youve answered that question honestly.
He has denied the accusation of using enhancers during the Tour de France. I watched some of the race on OLN the network that broadcasts the NHL-- and if memory serves me right he was in third place and sports sections in newspapers said he had fallen behind and America had no one good anymore.
Now after he wins allegations are the truth.
If he fails the second drug test he will lose the Championship. I do not know what to make of this other than Floyd Cycled real good. Good enough to win it all. And he came from behind to do it.
The 
