But are the people you mention taking whatever they are purely for improved athletic performance or for overall improvement of their health? If it's the latter they're having to choose between doing something that improves their day to day life or not compete because if they do the former thing it's cheating.
Love you Rich, but you are so naive. The only masters that are tested are essentially the age group national champions. And even that's rare. But those guys absolutely know that the substances are banned. These aren't hobby joggers running 20 miles per week. They're guys who train at a super high level, both volume and intensity, and fly to national championships.
There is a new national record holder (I won't say the age or distance) who is pretty open about his TRT. He rationalizes it but we know he's a cheat.
Because of the money involved, my idea of testing all (or any?) of the masters will never happen, but it would be fascinating to see what would happen if you set up a ruse in a national masters meet. Like put a few white tents near the shoot and tell all the participants at the at the gun that comprehensive drug testing will be waiting for them at the finish line. And then just sit back and see what happens. I don't think the race would turn into the the Delhi State 100m finals, but in a larger championship, I would not be shocked to see some guys getting lost out on the course.
This is exactly what happened at Masters Nationals in Sacramento. Out of the two biggest drug cheats in the field, one declared they would be there the day before and didn't show up and the other dropped out very early in the race to avoid the testing.
USADA really should've out of competition tested those two after that fiasco. What's hilarious is a couple of their competitors (people who could beat them) were out of competition tested. Those athletes all passed their tests.
Funny you should mention beta blockers. They're banned in sports where a steady heart rate impacts manual motor skills (shooting, archery, billiards etc) but not from athletics.
I am on propranolol, due to inherited blood pressure issues, and its the sole reason I gave up on distance running and now do 60, 100m and whatever I feel like mucking around with in the field. Distance running on betas is not pleasant.
UK experience is that I don't know of any immediate male acquaintances on TRT. Some women admit to HRT but none of those are involved in athletics beyond infrequent parkruns. As noted in the thread I would imagine that majority of prohibited medicines taken are prescribed for legit medical reasons without an eye on doping.
Not saying that some aren't pushing the envelope, though.
I suspect these athletes are taking testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). I wouldn't be too harsh on them; it's like a TUE, unless they are taking amounts that raise their original baseline.
Read the news stories. Doping enforcement is becoming a bureaucratic comedy. Old people (I'm 86 and a national over 85 10K and 15K winner and world silver medalist) are prescribed a lot of pills, for prostate and other geriatric issues. Many of us cannot even read the small print on the bottles. The idea that we are insidiously planning schemes for doping is silly. We just want to survive for another year of running!
I suspect these athletes are taking testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). I wouldn't be too harsh on them; it's like a TUE, unless they are taking amounts that raise their original baseline.
I feel like it's pretty obvious but I'll spell it out for you. Many Masters athletes take Testosterone for the performance benefits. This is pretty common for those in distance running as well as for those bodybuilding.
I suspect these athletes are taking testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). I wouldn't be too harsh on them; it's like a TUE, unless they are taking amounts that raise their original baseline.
I feel like it's pretty obvious but I'll spell it out for you. Many Masters athletes take Testosterone for the performance benefits. This is pretty common for those in distance running as well as for those bodybuilding.
Here's the deal, since people on here buy and repeat the lame "it's primarily for health reasons" excuse. NONE of the anti-ageing modalities like HRT are medically necessary. Only in very rare cases, and those cases would certainly not be out competing for masters running or cycling or triathlon or bodybuilding medals. It's like cosmetic surgery. Or wearing a ball cap backwards. It's an elective choice for those that can afford it.
I went and looked at the past ten doping cases. Six of the past ten people popped for doping are Masters runners. They are:
Semaj Street
Michael Hooker
Shady Biwott
Loretta Turney
Cary Cooper
Robert Qualls
One is a junior Olympic competitor who was apparently given testosterone by his father. Another was a paralympic competitor (David Prince).
It's interesting that most of the doping that USADA is catching is happening in the more amateur areas of the sport. I've long thought that the 15 minute decline in BQ times couldn't be explained by shoe tech alone, and that doping had to be a factor in a drastic decline in times. Given that almost no hobby joggers are tested (they're catching the dopers who show up to USATF Masters Championships) out of competition and given just how many Masters runners they've caught lately, I really think that the vastness of the doping problem in the hobby jogger community is understated.
It would make sense if you were over 50. I was never tempted, but I have to say declining Test levels are beyotch. The mind does wander a bit.....what little boost could i take??? You are not trying to get over the hump for world medals like someon in 20s, you are just tempted by wanting to feel much much better and not take 4 days to recover. Youll see.
This is correct. But I wonder how many people who start running later in life, who haven't followed the sport for decades, who don't read running websites or belong to clubs know that their inhalers could get them banned or what a TUE is.
Based on several buddies, I'd agree that many of the 3:30 - 4:00 hour 60+ crowd don't know. 1/3, 1/2, 2/3? But I know the vast majority of the sub-3 60+ runners do know. And I'd hope that USADA is testing the sub-3 group, not the sub-4 group.
No testing unless you have documented proof.
I had childhood asthma, once a random while get attacks. Have tried inhaler to rebent attacks, no gain in performance..
I've been a runner with 50 years experience. I no longer compete, but my contemporaries who still compete almost to a man are involved with HRT. It's all done with doctors prescription, but the reason they use is not for ED- they are all afraid someone else has an advantage.
Masters running is not that important, but some Masters it is their identity. The problem is once you start using HRT your body doesn't starting making hormones naturally.
As a 56 y/o male semi-competitive marathoner who does not use TRT but who is experiencing the multiple manifestations of male aging, I have been curious as to how common testosterone use is amongst my peers. Never really considered that the guys leaving me behind were juiced.
And there you go! Like i said, over 50, you start asking/thinking. You all will see.
If you are a chic or an older male, Test has a much more noticeable effect than young males. Young dudes are trying for a few seconds, older dudes want to feel normal again!
Here's the deal, since people on here buy and repeat the lame "it's primarily for health reasons" excuse. NONE of the anti-ageing modalities like HRT are medically necessary. Only in very rare cases, and those cases would certainly not be out competing for masters running or cycling or triathlon or bodybuilding medals. It's like cosmetic surgery. Or wearing a ball cap backwards. It's an elective choice for those that can afford it.
Also, there are no TUEs for testosterone. Its performance benefits are too large.
I feel like it's pretty obvious but I'll spell it out for you. Many Masters athletes take Testosterone for the performance benefits. This is pretty common for those in distance running as well as for those bodybuilding.
Here's the deal, since people on here buy and repeat the lame "it's primarily for health reasons" excuse. NONE of the anti-ageing modalities like HRT are medically necessary. Only in very rare cases, and those cases would certainly not be out competing for masters running or cycling or triathlon or bodybuilding medals. It's like cosmetic surgery. Or wearing a ball cap backwards. It's an elective choice for those that can afford it.
Don't patronize me. Let me spell it out for you, as a middle-aged man on TRT: symptoms, testing, levels below baseline, testosterone, feel well, can live a normal active life, get popped. The world isn't out to defraud through PEDs, despite a staple diet of Letsrun and your echoing bleats.
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