Landis Guilty: 2 Year Suspension

USADA just handed down its decision. In a 2 to 1 decision, the arbitrators found the T/E ratio test was flawed, but that the isotope test done to confirm the results was still done properly. Floyd Landis must give up the Tour de France title. He still has the option to appeal to CAS. His rights to due process have been violated, because without the positive on the T/E test, the isotope test would not have been done. The testimony in the arbitration hearing showed there were many flaws in the French lab's procedures on that test as well, so I will be very interested to see how the judges came to trust those lab results, but not the first test findings.

Update: Trust but Verify has links to the official documents of the decision. Chris Campbell, the dissenting arbitrator, has some very strong language regarding the french lab's testing practices.

Update Again: Here's a gem from the majority decision on how competent the former LNDD technicians are:

311. In response to these assertions the Panel finds that the practises of the Lab in training its employees appears to lack the vigor the Panel would expect in the circumstances given the enormous consequences to athletes of an AAF. Furthermore, the other matters introduced in evidence and referred to in this section do give some cause for concern. Nevertheless, like other parts of the evidence in this matter there are no ISL Rule violations that might result in the Panel accepting the Respondent’s allegations as affecting the AAF in this case.

Translation: They suck at their jobs, but WADA rules are so vague, it doesn't matter anyway. Guilty!