Please say it ain't so...

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by jobob
Results
Mixed RBC populations were identified in 22 of 25 patients tested. The three patients with antigenically homogeneous populations of RBCs were subsequently found not to have received their scheduled transfusions.

The statement that bothers me is: "were subsequently found not to have received their scheduled transfusions." In a controlled experiment, they would have a control group and a transfused group. They would transfuse blood into 20 people. And get 20 more people who had not had transfusions. Then they would test the 40 samples. A successful test would be able to tell which samples have homogenous populations and which ones did not.

Also, it seems like a VERY small sample (25 patients) to draw conclusive results!

[jobob]

Not having read the full paper, you're right, they didn't address the potential for false positives.

Maybe it's in the full paper.

I "assume" more rigorous tests have been done to validate the method.

Looking into my crystal ball, if the B sample turns up positive in this test, either Tyler is innocent and has one heck of a long legal battle ahead of him to clear his name, or , he pulls a Millar and 'fesses up - in which case I will declare H*ll officially frozen over.

[ChainsOflove]

I just don't buy it. His performances haven't been that great to have required cheating. Plus I just don't think he would do it.

[MightyMitre]

I very much hope Tyler is cleared. I think he's great and really want to believe the test results are false, but my cycling world has had so many shakes this year.

The death of Pantani who I adored, who was thown off the Tour of Italy several years ago but never at any point actually tested positive for anything. And David Millar who was also likeable and was Britains bright young thing, seemed to loose his way and now this.

So, as much as I like and admire Tyler I'm finding it hard to stay positive. I suppose we can never truely know what people are like behind closed doors, nor how strong the desire to win at all costs can be, to take such risks.

On another note, I too don't feel comfortable with the new tests. Like someone else said, this is potentially career-ending stuff. I just hope they're sure the test methods are accurate.

[jobob]

Sorry if I'm being tedious here, but here's an article that came out in cyclingnews that gives a good overview of the testing procedure:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...4/blood_doping

[Adventure Girl]

Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton's blood samples showed different results -- one positive, one negative, his Swiss cycling team said Thursday.

So the results are:

• Vuelta sample A - positive
• Vuelta sample B - positive
• Olympics sample A - positive
• Olympics sample B - negative

So now just what does all that mean?? Phonak said it was setting up a scientific board to check the validity of testing. What a mess!

[ChainsOflove]

Has anyone else noticed the deafening silence in all of this??

Where's Big Tex? shouldn't he be sticking up for his homeboy?

[fultzie]

LA did make a statement on cyclingnews.com ... he said he was "shocked." real supportive, eh?
i suppose he can't say anything publicly that vouches for Tyler, in case it is proven that he's guilty, because that wouldn't look too hot for his own credibility.

[jobob]

Has anyone else noticed the deafening silence in all of this??

Yes, and I find it curious, to say the least. I would have thought Tylers friends would have risen to his aid.

Here's all I've found so far:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...ep04/sep23news [ ... scroll down ...]

Armstrong on Hamilton

At home in Austin, Texas preparing for upcoming events Tour Of Hope and Ride For The Roses, Lance Armstrong commented to Austin American-Statesman reporter Suzanne Halliburton about the news about his friend and Girona, Spain neighbor Tyler Hamilton.

"I'm surprised, but I also know this is the beginning of a long process," Armstrong said, referring to the tests needed to be done on Hamilton's B samples. "From my experiences with Tyler, he's as honest and straightforward as anyone I know. He's a friend of mine, and I'm just as surprised as anybody else is about this."

[MightyMitre]

Very happy to hear the IOC have declared the Olympic B samples are 'inconclusive'. I'd hate Tyler to have be stripped of his gold medal.

BUT... the Vuelta tests still don't look good. Here's hoping the Phonak board of scientists can come up with something.

( need a little smiley face with crossed fingers )

[Adventure Girl]

I don't know if "inconclusive" is the best result that Tyler could have hoped for. This morning I heard the Olympic sample was found "negative", but this afternoon, it has been reported that the sample was mis-handled before the second test could be done. The sample should have been kept refrigerated, but it was frozen to -20 degrees by mistake. That made the sample useless for the test. So the IOC has dropped the doping case against him. A positive result would have meant he would lose the gold. A negative or inconclusive result means he probably gets to keep the gold medal, but it doesn't mean he was clean.

Speculation will remain. Especially since the "B" sample from the Vuelta was found positive. The only way to clear his name now is to refute the testing method. But I think he reputation is forever tarnished. They asked the IOC medical chief whether he considered Tyler to be "innocent or fortunate," and he said, "It's up to everyone to reach his own conclusions."

[spazzdog]

This is so sad....