Landis, Landis, Landis

The recent controversy over Floyd Landis has brought the sport of cycling under the microscope again. According to the media he is already guilty of doping and if the 'B' test comes back positive for synthetic testosterone he wil be stripped of his title. But, there are so many variables in this case that do not match up. For example, why would Landis take steroids for one or a few days in the middle of the tour? He would be the worst and stupidest cheater in the history of the sport if he did. Steroids are a performance enhancing drug made to be taken in cycles for optimum results in muscle gain and recovery. Taking steroids for a day or two would not produce any significant performance increase like his comeback during the tour. The only observable benefit would be decreasing muscle pain and soreness but would not increase recovery in that short of a time span. Only a fool would risk taking steroids in the middle of a tour that would produce negligible results.

Concerning the epitestosterone/testosterone results, a jury (if one existed in the sport) would have a hard time convicting on this test alone. The bodies natural production of testosterone, suppression of epitestosterone and variables in behavior can account for irregularities in this test. Landis' doctor has admitted that Landis' test had an 11 to 1 ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. A study by the German Sport University in Cologne found that drinking increased testosterone levels in the body 50% to 100% among five males. Landis has admitted to drinking shots and beer after his embarrassing drop during the tour.

The last piece to the puzzle is the sythetic testosterone test that came back positive. The test uses a mass-spectrometry device to test for irregularities in the carbon isotopes that occur in testosterone naturally. The Wall Street Journal published an article today saying, "According to Dr. Davis, who is now the technical director for Mass Spec Solutions Ltd., a Wythenshawe, U.K., maker of mass-spectrometry devices. 'Quite regularly there are errors in the isotope tests,' he said. 'It's a very difficult analytical technique.' "

Whatever the results may be, Landis should get a shot to defend his innocence before he is stripped of his title. There are too many questions, speculations and inexplicable behaviors to come to a conclusion in a matter of a weekend. Let's hope Landis is telling the truth and comes out on top.