Floyd Landis has been found guilty of doping during the 2006 Tour De France and stripped of his title. It took a long time (14 months) for the process, but the results are total unsurprising.

Any process that could have such a bearing on someones career as drug testing laboratory should have processes beyond reproach. Chains of evidence should trace samples from creation to destruction, Professional experts should not be able to describe the technicians use of analysis equipment as ‘a very expensive random number generator’, and things should behave according to known science¹.

As this case demostrates, even when an athlete proves there are serious errors in a laboratory’s document package that refute an Adverse Analytical Finding, it will be extremely difficult for an athelete to prevail in these types of proceedings. Therefore, it is imperitice that WADA Accredited Laboratories abide by the highest scientific standards.

[Dissent statement by Christopher Campbell, who voted against the findings.]

As far as I know, the USADA have never lost when the findings of their laboratory results have been challenged. To quote (I think) another famous cyclist when asked about the Landis case:

I feel sorry for the guy, the USADA will not lose because the USADA do not lose.

Guilty until proven innocent, and even when you prove the lab f*cked up you are still guilty.

Decision document (.pdf)
Dissent document (.pdf)

Posted in Cycling | Tags: Floud Landis, USADA, WADA | 0 Comments