RE: Tour de frace, drug scandals continue, Landis tests posi
It is interesting to see the headlines stating that Landis proclaims his innocence. Landis has done no such thing. He has responded to the allegations in a Clintonesque fashion.
First of all, he had to disappear for several days to confer with his lawyers and his medical experts to come up with carefully worded statements, which he had to refer to during his news statement. I am sure that someone who really had won without using any banned substances would be flabergasted at the results of the test and would immediately protest their innocence in their own words.
Secondly, he has NOT made a statement that he did not take steroids or testosterone in any form. He did state that he is not "in any doping situation right now". Well, I guess that means he is not currently taking any illegal agents now that the race is over, or it could mean that he did not blood dope- the term for using EPO or autologous blood. He did say that his high level COULD be a natural spike- but he didnt say that it MUST be.
Thirdly, his opinion on use of illegal substances is "that he hopes that parents watch the race with their kids and help them understand the choices that have to be made with the races" or something obscure like that... meaning what- that parents should help their kids understand that the ends justify the means???
Testing is complicated and will likely give him the benefit of the doubt should there be any discrepancies in interpretation. But I think Landis has all ready admitted to us with his wording and silence that he is in fact guilty. COME ON, LANDIS. STAND UP LIKE A MAN (YOU HAVE ENOUGH TESTOSTERONE ON BOARD), LOOK US IN THE EYE AND SAY " I DID NOT, I HAVE NOT, I WILL NOT EVER TAKE PERFORMANCE ENHANCING STEROIDS OF ANY SORT OR OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCING AGENTS."
