Floyd Landis and the continuing doping scandal.

[Squatch]

Initally, when I heard the report last year that Landis came down positive on a blood test for synthetic testosterone, a WADA-banned substance, I thought that the officials administering the TdF and WADA had an open-and-shut case against him.

Now, after reading the manner in which WADA, the USADA, and its laboratories handled the Landis case, I am starting to really believe that Landis is, in fact, the victim of some sort of vindictive plot.

- The results for Landis' B-Sample were released through a leak to Le'Equipe, a French sports periodical, and not through official WADA/USADA channels.
- Landis' representatives were not allowed to observe the lab's testing of his B-Sample.
- There is no clear chain od custody for any of Landis' samples
- The serial numbers on Landis' submitted samples and the tested samples did not match
- Now, Landid alleges that USADA officials approached him with a plea deal, offering to reduce his suspension if he gives up the dirt on Lance Armstrong.

Here's a link to the latest in this continuing saga: Link

[SacredCow]

1. It's S.O.P. for the French cycling community....

to accuse anybody (that isn't French) who wins the tour of doping. Greg LeMond was the only American who was immune to this- they loved him as their own for some reason. They SO wanted Armstrong to test positive while he was active, and would still love to dig up some good dirt on him.

I voted "other" though, because I haven't really kept up with it enough to feel strongly one way or the other. There's no scenario in this debacle that would surprise me.

[Squatch]

2. That's the "vindictive plot" I was alluding too.

The French bristle at the thought of any non-French cyclist winning the TdF.

[DS1]

3. I don't find it difficult to believe that the French authorities

were so sick of having their asses handed to them by American cyclists that some of them conspired to set up Landis.

On the other hand, it's not hard to believe that athletes like this use drugs to keep up with the rest.