Editorial: Taking one for the Gipper

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006 | 7:59 a.m.

Teamwork needed to win and also to deal with the problem of doping in sports

We may never truly know whether U.S. cyclist Floyd Landis cheated to win the Tour de France.

Initial tests have shown Landis had abnormally high levels of synthetic, rather than naturally occurring, testosterone in his system during the grueling 23-day race. Landis denies that he knowingly took anything illegal, despite a seemingly impossible overnight recovery that allowed him to jump from 11th place to third during the 17th day of the event he eventually won. Results of a second round of tests could come this weekend.

But what we do know is that this scenario is becoming all too common. Before the Tour even began, nine cyclists - including two of the event's top contenders - were banned from competing because they were involved in a doping scandal in Spain.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, world champion sprinter Justin Gatlin, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jason Grimsley - the list of those who have been accused of doping and their denials or admittances or no-comments goes on and on.

Meanwhile, the testing continues because it keeps getting results. The money, endorsements and public adoration, one USA Today sports columnist suggests, creates the "It's All About Me" philosophy that pollutes professional sports.

Maybe it's time to make this problem - and its penalties - all about the trainers, team owners and teams as a whole. If Landis is found guilty of using a banned substance, why not also fine his trainer, Team Phonak's owners or suspend the entire team from its next race? Same goes for baseball, football and other sports.

Sure, it's harsh. But maybe peer pressure can finally enforce what random testing evidently has not.