TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER TESTS POSITIVE FOR DOPE DURING RACE

ZURICH July 27, 2006 (AFP) - The Swiss-based [Phonak] team said in a statement that it was notified by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Wednesday of "an unusual level of Testosterone/Epitestosteron ratio in the test made on Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France." The American will ask for a counter analysis in the coming days, it added.

"The team management and the rider were both totally surprised," said a team statement.

Tour de France organisers said they were stunned by the news and a statement said: "If the B sample test confirms the first result, anger and sadness will dominate the feelings of all of those who had been filled with enthusiasm for the Tour de France of 2006."

The 30-year-old Landis will be sacked if the B sample also proves positive.

We'll wait on the B sample results.

UPDATE 07.28.06 [NYT registration required]:

Speaking from Europe yesterday in a teleconference with reporters, Landis said a “disastrous feeling” swept over him when he heard about his positive test. He said he had never used performance-enhancing drugs and was mystified by the abnormality of his testosterone level.

“I don’t look for sympathy,” Landis said. “All I’m asking for is that I be given what everybody in America has been accustomed to: innocent until proven guilty, rather than the way cycling is normally treated.”

PFFT (What is this?): Stunner 5 | Rayonnement français 0

Best comment seen: Only the French would consider the presence of testosterone in a man's system suspicious.

Scroll down all the way. It is the last item.

Tests are under supervision by UCI, they are no french standards for the tests but international ones.
Gatlin got caught today. Guess his rivalry with Asafa Powell will come to a 1-2 year break. It's a sad week for US champs.

Ah, M. Goldsoundz, not just American athletes.

FRENCH RUNNER FAILS DOPE TEST: REPORT

PARIS July 30, 2006 (Sapa/AFP) - French middle distance runner Nordine Gezzar failed a drugs test at a meeting in Strasbourg, it has been reported. Gezzar, the national 3,000m steeplechase runner-up, tested positive for nandrolone as well as for masking agent finasteride, sports daily L'Equipe claimed.

Were the clouds to part and God Himself offer some amusing explanation for pranking positive test results, once these guys test positive they are forever considered cheats. Guilty or no.

DGB