New Finding Challenges Tour Champ’s Claim (Landis - Tour De France)

NY Times ^ | 8-1-06 | Juliet Macur

[jdm]

Tests performed on the cyclist Floyd Landis’s initial urine sample showed that some of the testosterone in his body had come from an external source and was not produced by his system, according to a person at the International Cycling Union with knowledge of the results.

That finding contradicts what Landis has claimed in his defense since the disclosure last week that he had tested positive for an elevated ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone during the Tour de France.

During a news conference in Madrid on Friday, Landis said, “We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case, but a natural occurrence.” He explained that the testosterone levels throughout his career were “natural and produced by my own organism.”

Landis, 30, the third American to win the Tour, captivated fans with an improbable comeback. He provided the urine samples at the center of the doping inquiry after winning Stage 17 in the Alps with a long solo attack. That performance set up his victory, as he climbed to third place over all after struggling and plunging to 11th the day before.

His urine sample from that day was divided into A and B samples. Confirmation of the A sample result is needed for a doping violation to occur. If the B sample comes up negative, the case is dropped. But the finding disclosed yesterday, based on a more sophisticated test, shed new light on Landis’s failure to pass his initial screening, and he could be subjected to punishment because he had a prohibited substance in his body.

If the B sample comes back positive, Landis will face a two-year suspension from the sport. He will also be stripped of his Tour de France title.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I'll don my flame suit: I've only seen him interviewed once....and he didn't seem all too bright.

You may be right...but taking testosterone, which wouldn't have an immediate impact, would be particularly dim.

[UseYourHead]

Landis has been approved to use cortisone shots for his bad hip joint. Since urine tests only test for metabolytes of hormones, the cortisone shots could appear as a synthetic substance they claim is coming from abusing testosterone, which, as you have heard correctly would not help immediately much less provide the amazing gutsy performance that put him back into 1st place.

[ARW3A]

"Testosterone is a unique chemical compound. God only made one. What is synthetic testosterone????"

Synthetic testosterone has a slightly different carbon composition.


BTW, IMHO, all this information leaking is pure BS. How convenient is it that the greatest modern single stage performance is coincident to the doping charge? I think this has been orchestrated to bring Landis down even though it will utlimately be proven false.

[GovernmentShrinker]

At this level of sports, doping is very sophisticated, and athletes who are doing it are using highly skilled professionals to advise them on methods which will evade detection. But the tests are getting more sophisticated too, and also the athletes sometimes get arrogant and sloppy after getting away with it for a long time.

[CedarDave]

Thanks, I needed a new tag line today!

[thoughtomator]

I'm afraid I can in no way claim originality on that one =(

[stevio]

I just have a hard time believing that he would be so stupid to take something.

[MiHeat]

Of course.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Mennonites pride themselves on the phiosophy that a "man's word is his bond." I will take Mr. Landis' word over some Frenchman any day. I hope he fights this with a team of doctors who show the test was skewed, altered or what really did happen.Until then, I believe that when he said he did not take anything,he meant it.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I recall hearing an interview with a doctor when this story broke. He said that Landis had been given permission to take cortisone for his bad hip. The doc also said that the cortisone could cause the body to produce more testosterone. Is this true? And would it apply here, seeing as they're sayin' the testosterone came from another source?

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.

[nutmeg]

I recall hearing an interview with a doctor when this story broke. He said that Landis had been given permission to take cortisone for his bad hip. The doc also said that the cortisone could cause the body to produce more testosterone. Is this true? And would it apply here, seeing as they're sayin' the testosterone came from another source?

Interesting. I don't know the answer, but your post is very thought-provoking...

[nutmeg]

Any thoughts on post #30?

[bwteim]

I don't have the background. But for every expert on one side you could find a counter.

Probably posted before but the below gives more info:
http://www.procycling.com/news.aspx?ID=2351

and here's Forbes take about three hours ago
Test for Synthetic Testosterone Accurate http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/08/01/ap2920315.html

and a view from Reuters
Doping-Hormone experts question cyclist's hormone tests
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2006-08-01T203826Z_01_N01464014_RTRUKOC_0_UK-DOPING-TESTOSTERONE.xml&archived=False

[RichardW]

It doesn't matter. Synthetic testosterone is indisputable proof of doping. No human body produces synthethic testosterone. Also the body will produce anti-bodies against the synthetic testosterone rendering it useless over a long period of time.

Unless his hip replacement is a resounding success his bike riding career is finished.

[Penny1]

Actually, what I heard was connected to the thyroid medication...that it would have suppressed the epi levels. That would cause the ratio to skew the same way it would if the testosterone level was high. Of course, I don't remember where I read it or if it was a credible source....

The problem with this is that he's been taking both medications consistently throughout the TdF and the ratio was within the accepted range until after Stage 17.

I still think the guy is innocent, but if sample B comes back the same as the A sample I worry about how they'll be able to prove his innocence.

[irishtenor]

Beer.

[commish]

The Cortinsone and Thyroid medicine might jack with is Testosterone or Epi levels, but it would not account for the presense of synthetic Test in his body (IF that report is true).

THe big thing to look at here is this -- WHY ONLY THIS ONE STAGE???? He passed tests on 6 earlier stages And MORE IMPORTANTLY passed tests AFTER Stages 19 and 20.

What Landis MUST DO now, especially if the B comes back positive is demand that the STAGE 19 and 20 SAMPLES be tested by an INDEPENDENT lab and be tested for SYNTHETIC TESTOSTERONE. He should also immediately submit to Blood Testing to prove that he does not have SYthetic Testosterone in his blood.

This is the ONLY WAY he can clear himself. SYNTH TEST does not appear and one sample and then NOT APPEAR in another sample -- so he needs to prove that the Samples that passed the ratio test DO NOT have SYNTH TEST in them.

[alfa6]

An article by Derek Lowe PhD that explains, I think, how the testing works and some of the science behind the teststerone/epitestosterone ratio.

http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2006/08/01/testosterone_carbon_isotopes_and_floyd_landis.php

Maybe the TdF list would find this interseting

Hat tip to Megan McCardle who is filling in at http://instapundit.com/ this week.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}