It wasn’t difficult to see this one coming, after Floyd Landis’ train wreck of an arbitration hearing: Panel: Landis must forfeit cycling title.

PARIS - Floyd Landis lost his expensive and explosive doping case Thursday when arbitrators upheld the results of a test that showed the 2006 Tour de France champion used synthetic testosterone to fuel his spectacular comeback victory, The Associated Press has learned. The decision means Landis, who repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, must forfeit his Tour de France title and is subject to a two-year ban, retroactive to Jan. 30, 2007.

The ruling, handed down nearly four months after a bizarre and bitterly fought hearing, leaves the American with one final way to possibly salvage his title — an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If Landis doesn’t appeal, he’ll be the first person in the 105-year history of the race to lose the title because of a doping offense.

(Hat tip: LGF readers.)