What is Floyd Landis' defense?

Question

Is he saying he has naturally high testosterone levels (more than double the test minmum level) or that it is a French conspiracy to rob him of the title. Unless someone swicthed the vials I don't see how tester incompetence could have been the factor since he failed two seperate tests.

Answer 1

Floyd has a couple of arguments toward his innocence:

1. The tests for testosterone levels are not conclusive for positive drug use, meaning that they do not actually detect a banned substance in his system, but rather that his testosterone levels fell outside the "normal" range. This is a far more subjective result, as levels vary in different men. Moreover, the use of testosterone would not have contributed to his performance in that stage - for synthetic or otherwise added testosterone to be at all useful to an athlete, it must be administered continually for a reasonable period before the event in question, as a sort of training enhancer. Taking a shot of testosterone the night before a stage would do nothing to enhance his performance. Add to that the fact that every stage winner is automatically tested at the Tour de France (in addition to other random tests); Floyd would have known as he was on the attack that he would face a drug test. It seems improbable that, had he doped, he would have gone out to win the stage knowing that there were banned substances in his system. That being said, testosterone could potentially be used as a cover for some other substance, but that substance would still most likely have been detected in his drug test.

2. Although I don't usually fall into the category of French Conspiracy Theorist, I don't think it can be discounted in this case. There are WAY too many problems with the lab's handling of his sample, from improper documentation, the dissemination of his name as linked to that sample prior to the test (a big no-no), to erased computer files. You can read about them on http://www.floydlandis.com/blog/. Although obviously Floyd's site could be/should be considered biased as he has a vested interest in promoting his innocence, these reports are verified on sites like http://www.velonews.com and http://www.cyclingnews.com

It might seem strange to us that the French (or rather, individual French citizens - I'm not so crazy to believe that this was a decree from the government) would care so much about a bike race to try to rig the results, but the Tour de France is a major event of profound cultural importance.

When Greg LeMond won the Tour back in 1986, he did so in spite of a lot of downright nasty behavior on the part of his French team. The year before, he could have beaten Bernard Hinault, but his team lied to him about Hinault's position in the race and ordered him to stop riding and wait to assist Hinault. As Hinault was the team leader, ordering him to wait was not out of the question, but lying to him to do so certainly reflects poorly on the team management. To make up for this in 1986, Hinault and the team publicly declared throughout the season that LeMond was the team leader, but after the first time trial the team backed Hinault again and Hinault attacked and attacked LeMond throughout the race, at one point even attacking in the disorganization of the feed zone (incredibly bad protocol as the feed zone is considered a neutral part of the course) and escaping without LeMond's knowledge. The team didn't inform him that Hinault was ahead and, when LeMond realized Hinault was no longer in the peloton and was instead further up the course, he had to do a solo effort to catch him, as none of his teammates would assist him. LeMond was the stronger rider and eventually won the Tour and Hinault later said that he only attacked so that LeMond would give his best performance, but it's generally accepted that that statement is about as big a line of bull as has ever been said.

Although Americans are much more accepted in the Pro Cycling world of Europe today, there is a bit of a sting to 8 staight years of American victory (Lance's 7 and then Floyd's 1) in France's race, the crowning jewel of what was - at least until 1986 - a purely European sport. For that reason, it isn't out of the question to consider that there may have been some misconduct on the part of the lab.

Answer 2

I believe him for a number of reasons: 1. Stage winners are automatically tested. Anyone that would knowingly take something like that would not be stupid enough to win the stage, and Landis' team manager who was right with him would not have allowed that either. 2. The ICU (or whatever it is) let alot of damaging information leak out from the beginning, which is against their rules. The information isn't even verified, but they knew it would be verified. This shows they either willingly do not follow their own rules, or have people in their midst that don't, and that completely blows away any test credibility or any statements that they may have made or said they have made. 3.Landis was Armstrong's right-hand man for years, and he sacrificed his own performance to help someone else for all of that time. It does not match up that he would all of a sudden become selfish and cheat to win. 4. I saw his interview and I believe him. I've worked amongst lying criminals for the last 21 years and I think I know when someone is lying, and he wasn't. 5. The French tried to get Armstrong as well. It was rediculous, and I don't believe this sample that they say they have found from 99 that they just happened to find and test all of a sudden. 6. The French are not above sabotage. They sank the Rainbow warrior, Green Peace's ship that was protesting their atomic tests in the Pacific. That has been proven Also, at a French airshow, they covertly crashed a French jet into a Russian SST that would have been competition for the Concorde. That has been proven. 7. The French have been outraged whenever outsiders win their races. That happened with each American winning the Tour. And it happened with Senna in Formula One when the Brazilian passed Prost for the lead in the rain at Monaco. They were shocked and stopped the race because of rain, bringing the last completed lap back to where the Frenchman was leading, giving the win back to the Frenchman. 8. The French love controversy, protests, and turmoil. Nothing against them, it's just the way they are. 9. Most people just cook and eat their food and are satisfied, but the French have to mess with it until you cannot even tell what it was. Same with the Tour this year. First they throw out half of the best ingredients, and then after we still have one of the best Tours ever, they have to dump a can of hot sause into the mix and ruin it all after the fact. 10. I could go on, but I think I'll go have something to eat instead. ;).

Answer 3

Team Landis is going to defend Floyd by showing that the case has been too mishandled to rely on the results of the test. There are a lot of questions to ask about the revelation of this "positive test".

> A sample was negative, why test B sample?
> A samples for all stages other than the one in question were all negative. Doctors contend the 11:1 ratio could not be flushed out in time for next stage to test negative.
> Why was B sample result issued so many days after the stage? After the Tour was complete?
> Where was the B sample during that time period, what independent resource can testify to the exact location of that sample, who handled it, etc?
> Team Landis claims they were not given opportunity to view follow-up tests on the sample, why not?
> USADA supposedly offers Landis deal for information on Armstrong? Why?

WADA, USADA, Tour de France, and l'Equipe are all still so bitter for not being able to pin Lance with anything that when Floyd won, they appear to have gone full-out to discredit his victory. There are enough questions... this screams conspiracy.

Answer 4

The French are sore losers. They'll never get over an American winning their tour 7 times in a row. I think they'd do anything to prevent it becoming 8 times.

Answer 5

Unlike in America when an underhanded scenario never takes place.

Answer 6

When the French are involved, any underhanded scenario is possible.