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It's all in a headline
Cyclist Floyd Landis has been caught using doping, his team revealed three days after the American won the Tour de France.
Certain hormone levels were too high following the 17th stage of the tour. Scientists are currently performing a second test to rule out any mistakes. If the results are the same, Landis will likely be stripped of his victory.
Here's the technology tie-in: Google News nicely shows how the news is being perceived around the world.
US publications in their headlines stop short of convicting the cyclist by merely stating the fact that his testosterone count was too high.
The foreign press however takes the extra step and claims that Landis tested positive for doping.
Technically the foreign headlines aren't correct, but they do draw the obvious conclusion rather than clouding the true impact of the high testosterone levels.
Is this mere nationalism, with the US giving their winner the benefit of the doubt while the rest of the world starts a lynch mob before the second test results are in?
Spanish
i have been a huge fan of cycling for as long as I can remember, but this man is a cheat. winning is not winning if you cheat. the same goes for all sportspeople who take drugs. it's not fair on himself, his employers, his opponents, the fans, anybody.
Posted by: ryan | July 27, 2006 9:08 PM
ESPN reported earlier Thursday that he did NOT have high levels of testosterone in his system, only that a testosterone RATIO in his system was high. This could mean an unusually low amount of the other substance in his system. In fact, they reported his actual testosterone level was LOW.
Based on ESPN's report, the media is missing a VERY important detail.
I think we should wait before we lynch Floyd.
I have my fingers crossed that the best single-day of cycling I have ever witnessed was not tainted by cheating.
Mike
Posted by: Mike | July 27, 2006 10:32 PM