Leukemans confirmed

He's tried another excuse and failed, and must be running out of ideas, surely? Which is not to say he won't appeal again... The disciplinary committee of the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community) on Tuesday upheld Björn Leukemans' two-year suspension for testosterone usage, rejecting his appeal of the sentence handed down in January. The Belgian rider had argued that a team doctor prescribed a substance which caused the positive test and therefore he was not responsible. Leukemans can further appeal the suspension to the Council of the State.

Leukemans and DHEA?

Oh Bjorn! First he denied it, claiming he has a naturally high ratio and has explained it all before. Then he came up with the 'sex the night before' theory (admittedly better than the Landis-and-alcohol theory). Now we have a new excuse - I trusted the doctor. Sounds like an old one, but a good one. It all revolves around DHEA - favourite of naturopaths world-wide. Feeling off colour? Try this!

Read the CN story: Björn Leukemans' positive test for testosterone was due to a product mistakenly prescribed by a team Predictor-Lotto doctor, according to the Belgian newspaper De Morgen, which further reported that the team has fired the doctor. It was, however, unclear as to why the rider was given the product in the first place. The newspaper claimed that the doctor, whose name is not given, gave Leukemans the product Prasteron, which contains the steroid DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA is similar to testosterone and is on the forbidden list.

Bjorn Leukemans tests testosterone +

He claims to have a naturally high testosterone level that has passed previous examination, however this time he's been outed. A-sample positive, testosterone ratios out of whack. He's tarred now, like all the rest, but will await his B-sample. But will it be a lab result we trust? Or that the UCI trusts?

Björn Leukemans tested positive for testosterone in an out-of-competition doping control shortly before the World Championships in September. Team Predictor-Lotto immediately suspended him pending the results of the B-sample.

He said later: "According to the last test, I would have used a prohibited gel. However, I deny that most definitely," he stated, noting that, "I knew that there would be a control before the Worlds. Why would I be so dumb as to use testosterone, knowing that? Besides, the scientists say this product does not make you go any faster. You don't run a red light when the policeman is standing right there. I'm not that dumb!"

Meanwhile Floyd Landis is appealing against his positive for testosterone. After American cyclist Floyd Landis filed his appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to overturn his two-year suspension on doping charges, his defense team selected Swedish arbitrator Jan Paulsson for the panel which will evaluate his appeal. Landis's team and his opposition were permitted to each pick one arbitrator from CAS's list. CAS selected the final member of the panel.