Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.
Posted on 07/27/2006 2:12:59 PM PDT by nutmeg
The managers of Germany's ZDF said Thursday the public television network might cease broadcasting the Tour de France in reaction to winner Floyd Landis testing positive for testosterone.
"We signed a broadcasting contract for a sporting event, not a show demonstrating the performances of the pharmaceutical industry," ZDF editor-in-chief Nikolaus Brender said. "We are going to think about our future as broadcaster and maybe refuse to broadcast this event."
Even before the race started on July 1 it was engulfed in doping controversy, with top German contender Jan Ullrich, his T-Mobile teammate Oscar Sevilla and Italian Ivan Basso among nine riders expelled over their links to a Spanish blood-doping ring.
Brender called on the International Cycling Union and Tour organizers to take a harder line against riders and teams found guilty of doping.
The absence of 1997 Tour winner Ullrich, the only German to win the race, cut the audience of the two German public stations covering the Tour from 1.49 million viewers to 2.69 million for the first half of the race.
Landis's Phonak team on Thursday announced he returned a positive doping test on the evening of his sensational comeback win in the Tour's mountainous 17th stage which set up his eventual overall victory.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.
I don't blame them. What's the point. This is as bad as pro boxing. I used to follow it but don't anymore. The only thing that can and should be done is first offense is a lifetime ban. No exceptions.
That's quite a drop, from 1.49 million to 2.69 million!
< /sarc >
I can't blame them either, IF this proves to be true. I have a very hard time believing Floyd Landis is guilty of doping (more tests to come), but if he is, he should be stripped of his title...
< /sarc >
Yeah, I think they got those numbers backwards. ;-)
I found it very interesting how viewership dropped off because Ullrich was expelled. Geez, what about Andreas Kloden, Jens Voigt, et al...? The Germans had some excellent riders in Le Tour 2006.
It's the frensh. They accused Lance of drugging for all seven years he won. When another American wins..., well accusations of drugging are very predictable.
Yeah, I know. I sure hope Floyd has crossed all his T's and dotted all his i's, if you know what I mean. American riders have to be extra-careful, apparently...
Assuming Floyd is innocent, what a shame he has been banned from competing in the other races he planned to compete in (Tour of Netherlands, UK...). Geesh...
"...I have heard from people in France how proud they were to have another American in Paris, first Gershwin, second Lance and now Landis..."
Please remind them about the many brave American soldiers who have liberated France on a variety of occasions the next time they raise the subject. 
~ Blue Jays ~
I've added you to my Tour de France 2006 ping list as you requested.
merci beaucoup! or thank you so much! I mean you know... ahm nothin much but a french chien in the south!
Professional cyclists who win the Tour de France can be virtually assured they will be tested for drugs. I simply don't believe that Floyd Landis would have been stupid enough to use steroids. His win was likely the result of a superior training regimen and an unstoppable desire for victory.
~ Blue Jays ~
BTW, because of this protocol, Lance Armstrong is the most drug tested person in sports history yet he never once tested positive.
Excellent point regarding my choice of words. We are in 100% agreement. My feeling is that people are taking a swipe at Floyd Landis because they know they can "mar" his victory with this allegation.
~ Blue Jays ~
Without a stunning reversal from subsequent tests, Landis will be stripped of his title.
I know the term steroids is the catch all phrase for chemical cheating, but I doubt that Landis actually used steroids. I'm guessing he did something that was banned, it wasn't masked, he got caught.
His only real hope is that similar to the defense of former hockey player Corey Millen. Millen, about 5'6", 150lbs., showed a high level of testosterone. Further tests showed he naturally had elevated off the chart levels of test.
Good for ZDF.
Watching bike racing is about as exciting as watching golf.
Except when someone crashes, which almost never happens in golf.
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