French lab begins Landis sample analysis

The French anti-doping laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry has commenced analysis of the B-samples taken from Floyd Landis during the 2006 Tour de France. The samples, which are being analysed at the request of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), were found to be negative during the A-sample analysis, and were taken on different days that the one sample which was found to have a high testosterone to epitestosterone ratio.

Landis and his lawyers fought the testing of the B-samples, but a panel granted USADA their request to have the analysis performed at the Châtenay-Malabry lab last week. The results cannot be used to pursue any new doping charges against Landis should they come back positive, but Landis objected to the testing being performed at the same lab that he says botched the original test results.

"I am 100% confident that if best practice in process and technology were applied to testing my sample back in July I would be racing my bike this season," said Landis. The American wanted the analysis to be performed at the USADA lab in UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) instead, but the instrument required to perform the tests was under repair and could not be used.

Landis' arbitration hearing will take place on May 14, and he faces a sanction and the loss of his Tour de France title if the panel decides that the positive result is valid.