This is a bit old, but my father and I were discussing Landis’ doping charge on Saturday and it’s still fresh on my mind.
Something’s not right with the story.
First, I’m in the camp that a one day boost of testosterone wouldn’t do much for an athlete. Others would disagree, saying that it does increase your endurance. To quote Dr. Black from the above article:
“I have injected myself with testosterone in doing research, and I can tell you from personal experience that within hours, you feel a profound psychological change, a sense of well-being, aggression and energy,” Black said.
Well, from my personal experience the psychological changes are there, but there’s no physical benefit short term. I’ve never injected the stuff but I have taken testosterone supplements (after I had left the world of sports) in pill form and the only thing that happens, short term, is you get a really strong desire to fight everybody and screw any woman you see.
It’s like being 16 all over again.
Second, it’s fairly easy to absorb it through your skin. A fellow I hung out with during my college years worked at a pharmacy and would lift some of the liquid testosterone, mix it up with Purell hand sanitizer, and smear it on his body. It helped with his weight lifting. It isn’t inconceivable, to me, that somebody could have smeared some liquid testosterone on Landis somehow the night before the 17th stage just to disqualify him.
Just one lone individual with access to testosterone and a strong desire to keep yet another American from winning the Tour. That’s all it would have taken.
