2006 Tour De France Champion May Be Proven Innocent of Doping Charges

Last year's Tour de France champion Floyd Landis may be proved innocent of his doping charges. The French laboratory that conducted the results may of allowed improper access to one of the samples. When a urine test is done, the laboratory makes a cyclist provide two urine samples. The first sample is labeled with an A and the second sample is labeled with a B. Each sample is required to be handled by a different set of lab technicians. Required paperwork shows that the samples were handled by the same technicians. This is a direct violation of standards and could help Landis' urine test be thrown out.

Landis was banned from cycling competition and stripped of his title when it was discovered he had used performance enhancing drugs. A urine test showed signs of additional testosterone in his system. Testosterone helps a cyclist recover from fatigue at a faster rate. The drug also helps a cyclist perform at a higher level. It was because of the positive test results that Landis was banned for several years. He may now have a chance to return to action in time for next year's Tour de France.

An investigation into the mishandling is currently going on. The Floyd Landis situation is similar to one that happened with Spanish cyclist Inigo Landaluze. He took a urine test in which he also tested positive for testosterone. The results had to be thrown out when it was discovered that the same technicians handled each urine sample. Landis made sure that the same situation was investigated for himself. He has been adamant that he never took any drugs. Landis believed that his urine test was tampered with. This would prove that he may of been right.

Floyd Landis

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