Is that it's usually trumped by sensation. I don't know if Floyd Landis cheated to win the Tour de France. I want to believe he didn't, but I don't know Floyd so I can't vouch for him. But history isn't exactly on his side. And his hiding doesn't help much.
However, I'm going to start putting up links to articles I read that might help things be understood. The test he failed is largely inconclusive, from what I understand. But, he also happens to come from a team that has a rather shady past when it comes to performance enhancing drugs. In the last three years they've have at least five riders with positive tests, including American Tyler Hamilton who gave the most preposterous reason for his abnormal tests: He had a disappearing twin and that's why it appeared he had someone else's blood coursing through his veins.
If Floyd cheated, he deserves the humiliation. I like Floyd, but I like the sport more. I feel it needs to be competed by men and machines without chemicals. The sport needs to be cleaned up, because I'm not sure any of the guys in the current peloton don't bend the rules to some extent. And that pisses me off. And it should piss off any club rider who spends his summer training for a local criterium, pays his entry fee, suffers like a dog for a few hours, crosses the line with a smile and is proud of 53rd place.
If he didn't cheat, he deserves our apologies because we like to crucify before we get evidence in sport. That is, unless you're in baseball or football. Then you keep on playing while people make fun of you but you continue to make a mockery of the sport by cheating.
Anyway, here's an interesting article on testosterone. It helps you understand, to a little extent, what they are looking for, how it can be found what it might mean, etc.
Actually, the 'disappearing twin' thing is apparently true. He would have 2 different dna strands in his blood. Or something like that. Anyway, I saw it on TV so it must be true!
ReplyDeleteWell, and I found an internet article about it a zillion years ago. It's a really bizarre thing and quite rare.
I have to say I'm really saddened. I do hope it turns out not to be true. I was so excited about his win!
I remember that show. It was called "I Am My Own Twin". Sadly, with all the mounting evidence, I have a feeling Tyler's twin is some guy in Spain who did not disappear.
ReplyDeleteBut his ban is up soon, since he's on the two-year karma plan. It'll be interesting to see what happens.