Landis loses appeal, stripped of Tour title

[Vlad the Impala]

Not real sport but:

Floyd Landis lost his expensive and explosive doping case Thursday when the arbitrators upheld the results of a test that showed the 2006 Tour de France champion used synthetic testosterone to fuel his spectacular comeback victory, The Associated Press has learned.

The decision means Landis, who repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, must forfeit his Tour de France title and is subject to a two-year ban, retroactive to Jan. 30, 2007.

The ruling, handed down nearly four months after a bizarre and bitterly fought hearing, leaves the American with one final way to possibly salvage his title -- an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

If Landis doesn't appeal, he'll be the first person in the 105-year history of the race to lose the title because of a doping offense.

According to documents obtained by AP, and to be made public later Thursday, the vote was 2-1 to uphold the results, with lead arbitrator Patrice Brunet and Richard McLaren in the majority and Christopher Campbell dissenting.

 

[Stat Brother]

Finally, how can it take 13 months to prove a guilty mans guilt.

 

[Statto]

I take it hat oscar piero will now be declared the rightful winner.

 

[Stat Brother]

yeah

 

[Notters]

Not real sport? NOT REAL SPORT? It's THE real sport.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Not all men are created equal, but I'm sure I read that one bloke on this year's Tour had a lung capacity that was 30% bigger than average. How can your average cyclist compete with that? Equally how did that 'pocket rocket' bloke (Pedro Delgado? or Joey something?) from eons back manage to be competitive with such a short leg length?

Answers purrlleeaase!

 

[Easy 10]

I only like it when they crash. Bicycle accidents are ACE (You;ve Been Framed is one of my favouritest shows).

 

[Stat Brother]

Pedro was an out & out mountain specialist, where being little, slight, and altitude trained is an advantage.
The trick is being able to ride up mountains by a greater distance/speed than the big boys can ride, past you, on the flat.

plus he was @ his height during the late eighties early nineties, a period of time that I'm sure history, with reference to drugs, will record as 'a very bleak'. Read into that what you will.