Landis returns positive B sample

Floyd Landis looks set to be stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title and handed a lengthy ban from cycling after returning a positive B sample for excessive levels of testosterone.

The American’s Phonak team announced on July 27 that an A sample from Landis, taken after he won stage 17 of the tour by almost six minutes, found an “unusual” level of testosterone/epitestosterone.

Landis insisted the result was “absolutely natural” and vowed to clear his name, but the International Cycling Union have confirmed a positive test for his B sample.