Landis' lawyer says dehydration may be reason for doping results

PARIS -- Dehydration is the latest possible reason offered for Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' elevated testosterone levels.

"Maybe a combination of dehydration, maximum effort," Jose Maria Buxeda, the cyclist's lawyer, said Thursday after testing began on his backup sample.

That theory was flatly rejected by one of the world's top anti-doping officials.

"In 25 years of experience of testing ... such a huge increase in the level of testosterone cannot be accepted to come from any natural factors," said Prof. Christiane Ayotte, director of Montreal's anti-doping laboratory.

"If dehydration was the case, then marathon runners would be testing positive all the time. Tennis players would be testing positive all the time. Dehydration is a medical condition that requires hospitalization."