cbip

Well at least it appears that way.
He wins a Crit on Tuesday, the announcment comes out that some "high placed rider" failed a test for testosterone, he then no shows at a Wednesday event. He also no shows at a Thursday event. Neither event was notified of his withdrawing. The only word is from his teams riders who say he went to see his doctor.
The guy sure seems like he is guilty to me. He is exhibiting all the signs of a guilty person. Sudden change in habits and personality, removing himself and those close to him from public scrutiny, next we will hear from his attorney about unsubstaniated claims.
If he is proved to be the guilty one, this will be the death blow to many of the cycling fans world wide. And if its not, it should be.

merlinextraligh

I think your argument may prove too much. Assuming its not a positive test for suspension purposes until the B sample comes back (an assumption I'm not sure about) it would be stupid for Landis to withdraw from the crits if he were the postive A sample. If you intended to contest the positive, the rational behavior is business as usual, and hope like hell the B sample comes back negative, or they botch the process somehow. Then, by procedure your positive A is never publically disclosed, and it all blows over.

Because people will draw the inference that you're making is precisely the reason you don't withdraw if it is in fact you that had the positive A sample.

SingleSpeeDemon

Landis's hip is messed up-that's why he withdrew. He's no good to race and his winning le Tour was a feat that requires strength and will that almost no one posesses. Maybe I'm blind, but I gotta believe.

HWS

He just won the most grueling competition in pro sports with a bum hip. I think he's entitled to miss a crit or two. That and he has an appointment with Leno tomorrow.

Jeez.

Smoothie104

appearence fees for post TdF races are around 60,000 Euros. So its a big paycheck he's passing up, but then again, Floyd never seemed to be racing for the money anyways.

I've heard it was not testo. but a stimluant of some sort, and someone "high up" in the GC. I have also heard its "the worst possible scenario"

All the Major Countries Ferderations have said they were not contacted, yet the UCI claims to have contacted the riders federation, so someone is lying, as usual.

This sucks.

https://www.procycling.com/news.aspx?ID=2341

georgiaboy

I hope you are wrong. When could we expect this inquiry to wrap up?

'nother

You're hardly the first to speculate about it.

Anyway, it kind of doesn't add up; doesn't make sense that he'd pull out of races if he thought he was going to get caught as merlin said. The hip explanation makes some sense, as does the fact that he's slated to appear on Jay Leno. Also the USA Cycling federation has denied being contacted by the UCI; the initial news story said the rider's national federation had been contacted (see https://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...06/jul27news2).

It's certainly possible it is Floyd. But I kinda think it's not, at least not in this case. Who knows, maybe he was doping and just avoided detection, though -- that's *always* possible. "Not getting caught" is not the same as "not cheating"...likely that half of the ProTour peloton is, and just not getting caught.

cbip

yes I agree.But you have to admit its not like him to not show up or give a reason for missing an event. If their is one thing I have admired about the guy, it is his straight up honest behavoir, and he all of a sudden is acting differently, which is one thing guilty people do.
I personally hope it is not him! I really like the guy and up to now think he is the most likable and real person in cycling. Seems like the kind off guy that would be fun to hang out with.

Dead Extra #2

I don't know anything about this site or the accuracy of this quote but I found it interesting. Smoothie, you seem to follow this stuff, have you seen this quote before?

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As five-time Tour champion Jacques Anquetil said in response to all the handwringing, "You'd have to be an imbecile or a hypocrite to imagine that a professional cyclist who rides 235 days a year can hold himself together without stimulants."
-------------------------------------------------------

source: https://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060724&s=diarist072406

High Cadence

Wow...so absolutely NO facts whatsoever, yet you are hanging him high.

Nice.

HWS

You're hearing the grumblings of a disgruntled race organizer. There are potentially hundreds of reasons he didn't show. His people have already said it's due to his hip.

I'm a Phloyd Phan myself and really wish this cat hadn't been let out of the bag until all of the facts could be released.

EURO

High Cadence

Didn't you learn your lesson on being so quick to judge during the tour, you dufus??

Once again...I hope you are wrong...so I can laugh some more...

cbip

I do have facts. The changes in behavoir and the lack of response from the associated parties. I dont want it to be him, but the evidence in right now sure starts to point his direction.

GGDub

Ahem,

Looks like it was Landis:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...l06/jul27news3

cbip

By the way, all you who have so quickly jumped on me for bringing this up, swallow your pride and go to velonews/cyclingnews.
Any appoligies? huh anybody? Buehler......Buehler.

'nother

I heard (read) this as well; both articles I've read quote Pat McQuaid on the Italian Tuttobici website, anyone have the URL for that site? I'm not familiar with it and could not locate it (ok maybe I'm the dope!).

georgiaboy

ugggh!

What are "endocrinological examinations"?

traildragon

aight...so what I don't understand is how a rider as smart as Floyd appears to be would take a banned substance, knowing full well that winners of stages are automatically tested, and then ride the stage of his life on 17. It doesn't make sense to commit career suicide like that.

cbip

Boy, sure is silent in here.

Aaron Cormack

https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/othe...ng/5221122.stm


They are all at it aren't they? It is a bigger circus than boxing.

Dinstee

Friggin Cuss!

Dead Extra #2

Examination of your endocrine system, part of which is the organs that produce and regulate your "sex" hormones, testosterone etc.

Stallionforce

Because he was desperate, and humiliated. And because he was probably assured that the method of doping, rather than the substance itself, would make it undetectable. And because he's not a scientist, but a rider.

pathdoc

Could it be random error during analysis of the sample? Could someone have unusually high levels of testosterone following exceptionally strenous exercise? Just wondering.