The International Cycling Union (UCI) demanded on Monday the B
sample of Tour de France winner Floyd Landis be tested.
The UCI asked on Monday the laboratory Chatenay-Malabry to go
ahead and test the B sample as they believe a quick solution to the
affair would be better for the sport.
"We have done this so the whole thing can be speeded up," a UCI
spokesperson was quoted by AFP. "We took this decision because of
the importance of the case.
"Also the longer it goes on the more damage the sport risks
suffering."
American Landis, 30, is facing the loss of his title and a
two-year ban after he returned a positive test for abnormal levels
of testosterone following his win in the 17th stage of the Tour
earlier this month.
Michael Henson, a spokesman for Landis based in New York, said
the cyclist just asked on Monday for the B sample to be tested.
The laboratory is likely to test the sample between Thursday and
Saturday morning.
If Landis had waited till Wednesday to appeal for the B sample
to be tested the result would not be known for several weeks as the
laboratory shuts for the holidays at week's end.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)