Professional Cycling - Landis' best defense now — stupidity

Here is an interesting spin for a Landis defense. Really, what else does he have left.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=18&entry_id=7797

Here is an interesting spin for a Landis defense. Really, what else does he have left.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=18&entry_id=7797
The heart of this defense is, "Would Landis really be so dumb as to take the most-tested-for substance on the Tour on the exact day that he was most likely to be tested? It boggles the mind."

There is nothing dumb about taking testosterone steroids to hasten one's recovery, which is so critical to surviving much less succeeding in the Tour, as long as you also mask it (presumably with an appropriate injection of epitestosterone to "fix" the T/E ratio so that it is below 4:1, in which case they wouldn't go on to do the more complicated and expensive test of syn testosterone).

That the masking did not work correctly for some reason (maybe the whiskey is the explanation for that) is a much more reasonable explanation for what happened than some mysterious explanation that rules out him intentionally doping because he's not that stupid.

At this point, he is pretty well sunk... perhaps the only way to redeem himself (although it will kill his career) is to just blow the whistle on any and all forms of doping he is aware of.

Go the other route... forget lying... Become the spokesman for a drug free tour... rest on the "loss of the championship due to drugs" as a reason to speak out.

Between his hip and his current status, this may be the only way for him to redeem himself.

That the masking did not work correctly for some reason (maybe the whiskey is the explanation for that) is a much more reasonable explanation for what happened than some mysterious explanation that rules out him intentionally doping because he's not that stupid.
Hamilton also tried versions of the I'm Not That Stupid defense. He said he wouldn't be so stupid as to take someone elses blood and put his life and Haven's life at risk. It went over about as well as the vanishing twin defense.

Landis is hosed. He is doing the smart thing and going ahead and getting his hip replaced. Maybe he can come back in two years and win the Vuelta.

Landis is hosed. He is doing the smart thing and going ahead and getting his hip replaced. Maybe he can come back in two years and win the Vuelta.

Nope. He's out for a minimum of four years--two years of suspension, followed by an additional two that no Pro Tour team can employ him. So yes, he's hosed.

Dr. Bill

Nope. He's out for a minimum of four years--two years of suspension, followed by an additional two that no Pro Tour team can employ him. So yes, he's hosed.

Dr. Bill

It's no PRO TOUR team can employ him. He's technically eligible to go with the lesser pro teams-if one would be willing to sign him.

It's no PRO TOUR team can employ him. He's technically eligible to go with the lesser pro teams-if one would be willing to sign him.


In which case wouldn't he be allowed to ride for a team like Selle Italia (not on the pro tour) and get a bid to ride in a pro tour race? (the Giro etc.) Or is e not allowed in pro tour race as well?

He dug a very deep hole, his future in racing is minuscule.

For those of you who think he wouldn't take testosterone because its dumb, or because it doesn't help, read the current issue of Velonews. One of the drugs that was part of Uhllrich's regiment according to reports from Operation Puerto was testosterone.

For those of you who think he wouldn't take testosterone because its dumb, or because it doesn't help, read the current issue of Velonews. One of the drugs that was part of Uhllrich's regiment according to reports from Operation Puerto was testosterone.

Nobody is saying testosterone wouldn't help cycling, the issue is that it wouldn't have helped him to take it just the one time (where he tested positive).

Nobody is saying testosterone wouldn't help cycling, the issue is that it wouldn't have helped him to take it just the one time (where he tested positive).

Sorry, the issue is that (synthetic) testosterone is a banned substance. It doesn't matter whether it would or wouldn't have helped.

He dug a very deep hole, his future in racing is minuscule.

Which is why I believe that if they do take away the yellow jersey, he should just come out and tell the whole tale... Point fingers and blow the whistle.

Enough of this "brotherhood of lies."