Fight Against Doping -- Olympic Champions Retire; Landis to Ride with Armstrong?

Yevgeny Dementiev retired after learning he failed a drug test in January. (Getty Images) Olympic Champions Retire After Failing Drug Test

Julia Chepalova and Yevgeny Dementiev announced their retirement from skiing on Tuesday, just one day after their national federation was informed they had failed drug tests.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) told the Russian federation on Monday the two Olympic champions tested positive for EPO at an event in January.

Chepalova won golds at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 games in cross country skiing, and was a two-time world champion. Demntiev won the 15 km + 15 km pursuit in Turin. He was also a bid ambassador for the Sochi 2014 Olympic bid.

Despite their retirement, the head of Russian skiing said “both would be disqualified. He added that retirement did “not absolve them of responsibility."

A third Russian skier, Nina Rysina, also tested positive for EPO. She requested her backup “B” sample to be analyzed.

Landis Could Join Armstrong’s Cycling Team

Floyd Landis, the first man to have his Tour de France victory removed for doping offenses could return to top-level professional cycling, riding on Lance Armstrong’s new team.

Landis, 33, is under contract with a management team until 2010 but wouldn’t rule out riding for Landis’ Team Radio Shack if the opportunity came about.

Armstrong, who was on tour promoting his cancer researchFloyd Landis didn’t rule out the possibility of riding on Lance Armstrong’s team in 2010. (Getty Images) fund in Ireland, answered a question Tuesday by saying, "I wouldn't rule anything out. He's a great rider, a tremendous story."

Landis said it would be improper to comment on joining a new team while he still belongs to another.

"I don't think Lance was trying to start a rumor -- he was responding to a question," Landis told ESPN. "He wants to win another Tour, and he's trying to hire guys who can help him do that. I was his teammate and he knows he could count on me. Why rule anything out?"

Landis returned to professional cycling earlier this year after completing a two-year ban for a doping conviction.

Briefs…

… Tom Boonen’s criminal cocaine charges were dropped on Wednesday. Two out of competition tests indicated the former world champion had used cocaine. The drug is only considered to be performance-enhancing if used during competition. He will still have to pay a fine of 1000 Euros.

… New Zealand marathoner Liza Hunter-Galvin was suspended from competition for two years on Friday by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand after she admitting to using the performance-enhancing substance EPO. Hunter-Galvin admitted to using the substance February, March and in May. She is a two-time Olympian, finishing 51st in Athens and 35th in Beijing.

Written by Ed Hula III.