Tour winner Landis tests positive
Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has failed a test for testosterone, a Phonak team spokesperson has confirmed.
Landis won the Tour in Paris on Sunday, having cruised through the final stage to beat Caisse D’Epargne’s Oscar Pereiro by 59 seconds.
“He has tested positive for testosterone,” a Phonak team spokesperson said.
The positive test relates to stage 17 of the Tour, from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Morzine in the mountains. Landis won the stage by five minutes and 42 seconds from Carlos Sastra.
On Wednesday, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that one rider had returned a positive test, but did not name the individual.
Landis has failed his first analysis, and the result will have to be confirmed by a counter analysis.
A statement on the Phonak website read: “The Phonak Cycling Team was notified yesterday (Wednesday) 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 management and the rider were both totally surprised by this physiological 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. 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.”
Should Landis fail his counter analysis, the consequences could be severe - he is likely to face a ban and he could be stripped of his Tour De France win.
When asked if Landis could lose his Tour title, Enrico Carpani, a spokesman for UCI, said: “We have only just released this (statement) two or three minutes ago. We have to await the final decision of the authorities. I believe yes, but I am not a lawyer. Please do not be too quick in drawing your conclusions.”
On Wednesday, Landis withdrew from the Chaam criterium in Holland, and on Thursday he pulled out of the Grand Prix Jyske Bank race in Denmark.
“It is with great regret that we announce Floyd Landis will not be appearing in the race,” Danish organisers said in a statement.
