From: "Rich Gauszka" 

Unfortunately Landis tested positive for the most remarkable 17th stage of
the race. Hopefully subsequent tests will show a different result

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/27/sports/othersports/27cnd-doping.html?hp&ex=11
54059200&en=f616263b07608f96&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Floyd Landis, who on Sunday became the third American cyclist to win the
Tour de France, tested positive for a banned substance after winning Stage
17 of the race, his team announced today.


The Phonak team confirmed that Landis returned a positive "A"
sample after Stage 17, in which he pulled off one of the most remarkable
performances in cycling history. Landis struggled in Stage 16 the previous
day, losing several minutes to his rivals. But in Stage 17, on July 20, he
attacked over three grueling Alpine passes and won the final mountain stage
of this year's Tour by nearly six minutes, regaining much of the time he
lost the previous day.


"The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday by the UCI about an
unusual level of testosterone/epitestosterone ratio in the test made on
Floyd Landis after stage 17 of the Tour de France," the team said in a
statement, referring to the international cycling union. "The team
management and the rider were both totally surprised of this physiological
result."

A positive "A" sample does not prove that a rider used
performance-enhancing substances; a second sample, the "B"
sample, still must be tested to confirm the result.

"The rider will ask in the upcoming days for the counter analysis to
prove either that this result is coming from a natural process or that this
is resulting from a mistake in the confirmation," Phonak said in the
statement. "In application of the Pro Tour Ethical Code, the rider
will not race anymore until this problem is totally clear.

"If the result of the 'B' sample analysis confirms the result of the
'A' sample, the rider will be dismissed and will then pass the
corresponding endocrinological examinations."

"John Beamish"  wrote in message
news:op.tc4cxiemm6tn4t{at}dellblack.wlfdle.phub.net.cable.rogers.com...
> If you haven't been watching Floyd Landis then you have missed what is
> truly one of the most remarkable sport performances.
>
> While there was definitely something special about Armstrong's streak,
> Landis has delivered a performance that is truly memorable.  If you've
> been watching it, you know what I mean; if you haven't, you've missed a
> personal triumph.  In the stage two days ago, one of the commentators said
> that he was treating it as a time trial.  A truly outstanding moment.

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