The International Cycling Union (UCI) demanded on Monday the B sample of Tour de France winner Floyd Landis be tested.

The UCI asked on Monday the laboratory Chatenay-Malabry to go ahead and test the B sample as they believe a quick solution to the affair would be better for the sport.

"We have done this so the whole thing can be speeded up," a UCI spokesperson was quoted by AFP. "We took this decision because of the importance of the case.

"Also the longer it goes on the more damage the sport risks suffering."

American Landis, 30, is facing the loss of his title and a two-year ban after he returned a positive test for abnormal levels of testosterone following his win in the 17th stage of the Tour earlier this month.

Michael Henson, a spokesman for Landis based in New York, said the cyclist just asked on Monday for the B sample to be tested.

The laboratory is likely to test the sample between Thursday and Saturday morning.

If Landis had waited till Wednesday to appeal for the B sample to be tested the result would not be known for several weeks as the laboratory shuts for the holidays at week's end.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)