How do you think Floyd Landis testing positive for drug use will impact USA's views on cycling?

Question

Tour de France champion Floyd Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone during the race, his Phonak team said Thursday.

Shouldn't have been used for a hip injury.

Lance never had a legitimate positive.

Answer 1

As an outsider(an unshaven Canadian), I think most of the US is assuming a "wait and see attitude", at least until Landis goes on Oprah.

Answer 2

I'm with shredpez. This is a sensational story right now because the winner of the Tour de France has been implicated. However, the majority of the American public didn't know who Floyd Landis was before the Tour began and likely won't know much more about him now. I'd also argue that a number of Americans didn't even know that Lance Armstrong wasn't in the Tour this year. Unfortunately, there is a perception among many casual cycling fans that every professional cyclist uses illicit, performance enhancing drugs so that they can compete at the highest levels in the sport. I think this is an unfortunate belief and I don't think there is sufficient evidence to prove this claim true. I hope Floyd did not use testosterone or any other banned substances to help him win the Tour. He should lose his title, however, if he did. Drat!

Answer 3

As I understand, there wasn't a positive for drugs or any foreign substance. Which is totally different from just abnormal levels of testosterone ratio, which could happen naturally. But we'll find out soon enough.

Unfortunately, cycling, in the US mainstream population, will unjustly seen as a cauldron of drugs and abuse of them. As for the fans of cycling (more hard core), I think, won't have much impact. For we know this goes on and more importantly, we are more familiar with the "big" picture of what our sport is. However, the support by the public means much because popular opinions matter when a country supports development programs, such as USA cycling.

And even worse, however, is that only when the Tour de France is on, US media grabs ahold of it for broadcast. Which is not enough time and chances for a sport to prove its worth within a country.

As for Floyd, he has to fight this hard and aggressively - quickly. He can't let this, unjust process (i.e. the media leaking by UCI to the European media regarding tests at the Tour) destroy his career.

Anyways, cheers all, and good riding!

Answer 4

France will never develop an attitude of gracious acceptance that someone from the United States won the Tour. Just one more reason in a huge list that I will never get involved as a spectator in this sport. Can't honestly say I know anyone personally who is interested in this sport. Had a tiny bit of interest when Armstrong was involved, lost interest immediately with all the testing political hype.

I suspect the USA impact will include corporate sponsors interested in the US citizens as their customers will pull out of the Tour altogether. Most corporations will be savvy enough to realize this sport is becoming a political stage to verbally assault the United States and all of its people.

Answer 5

This is only the beginning of the process for UCI testing. So the jury is still out. But I don't think this will impact USA's view on cycling because other than the enthusiast who love the sport, the US has never really cared much about cycling anyway.

Look at Tyler Hamilton. He's almost done with his two year suspension after testing positive for drugs and he won gold at the Olympics. No one ever talks about that.

I hope it turns out to be a false positive.

Answer 6

His Mennonite parents live near Ephrata , Pa. hard working, honest people. They raised a son who gave up his, some would say, strict religious upbringing to become a world class racer.
I doubt that he gave up his teachings on honesty and hard work to achieve a goal. Don't know enough about the drug testing, substance, or reason for taking it, but have faith in the man himself.

Answer 7

I think it will be a huge impact. People tend not to associate anabolic steroids and other performance drugs with cycling, or even mud wrestling..but hey! It's a problem in every competitive sport!

Answer 8

I got so angry when I heard that this morning. ARRRRGGHHH. Another piece o' crap athlete giving us a bad name. It was bad enough that they were aggressively against Lance but this is lame. The first year after he quit too. ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

I hate you Landis!!

Answer 9

it makes me think that they might still go after Lance...saying he was on something....because Landis tested positive for it.....

Answer 10

I dont know what he tested pos. for but he is in a great deal of pain. Seems if it was prescribed for a legitimate reason, there should be no consequences.