Sports

Tour de France champion Landis found guilty in doping case
by Nina Gotzmannova

The doping case of US cyclist Floyd Landis is finally over, but with the result "guilty". Two of three arbitrators confirmed the results of a test that showed testosterone usage. But the test was not done properly and Landis, 2006 Tour de France champion, can appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport. It would be his last chance. According to the results, he lost his Tour title and has a two-year ban of cycling. If he wouldn't appeal, or if he would lose the appeal, he will be the first person in 105-years to lose the title because of doping. Then the title will belong to Oscar Pereiro, who finished second. Landis's last chance to win may be the fact that the testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T-E) test was not done properly. Only the carbon-isotope ratio analysis (IRMS), more difficult test, was positive and the arbitrators said the result of this test is sufficient for Landis guilt. Landis objects to the result, reasoning if the laboratory has messed the easier T-E test, there is no safety the IRMS is correct. Landis invested approximately $2 million to this case. He still states he is innocent and he didn't take anything illegal. He claims cheating is against everything he stands for. However, one of the witnesses, former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond testified under the oath that in a phone call Landis admitted the usage of doping. But Floyd Landis still has friends, who support him. Lance Armstrong, who won Tour de France seven times, shows his feeling for Landis's innocence. Armstrong himself was investigated for doping using in 2005, but nothing was proven.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_landis_decision;_ylt=ArZgoyj3AWicHo_2F8O4BbKs0NUE

by Nina Gotzmannova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

posted by Blog TechSource @ 1:59 PM