The backup (B sample) test for Tour de France champion Floyd Landis has come back positive for high levels of testosterone that includes synthetic testosterone as well. 

The head of France’s anti-doping commission said the samples contained synthetic testosterone, indicating that it came from an outside source.

The second or “B” sample, “confirmed the result of an adverse analytical finding” in last week’s “A” sample, the International Cycling Union said.

Pierre Bordry, who heads the French anti-doping council, said the lab that found higher-than-allowable levels of the hormone in both samples also discovered synthetic testosterone.

Phonak, his cyclying team, immediatley fired Landis. 

The Swiss-based team Phonak immediately severed ties with Landis and the UCI said it would ask USA Cycling to open disciplinary proceedings against him.

“Landis will be dismissed without notice for violating the teams internal Code of Ethics,” Phonak said in a statement. “Landis will continue to have legal options to contest the findings. However, this will be his personal affair, and the Phonak team will no longer be involved in that.”

The Tour de France says they no longer recognize him as their champion.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Landis no longer was considered champion, but the decision to strip him of his title rests with the UCI.

“It goes without saying that for us Floyd Landis is no longer the winner of the 2006 Tour de France,” Prudhomme told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “Our determination is even stronger now to fight against doping and to defend this magnificent sport.”

Prudhomme said runner-up Oscar Pereiro of Spain would be the likely new winner.