Masters and Doping

they don't run very fast either...and there is no money involved.

There is plenty of interest among their peers but that is only a small subset of USATF. I'm sure there is much more doping than has been uncovered among masters athletes.

Masters do dope and it affects the WAVA Howard Gurbbs age grading numbers. The dope they use has an even greater effect on them than an open runner (i.e. testosterone) so the improvement in results is more dramatic.

Yes, it's pretty common for masters to dope.

I am 39 and have consulted with a few local area runners on the best way to dope as I approach 40.

There is a LOT of doping in Masters Track, and it includes top people. That's the number one reason why I personally don't compete in masters track at all. An example is Val Barnwell, who tested positive for Testosterone, just like Justin Gatlin did:

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39099

Another one, Roger Wenzel, tested positive for anabolic steroids at last year's masters national championships and received is ban in March:

http://www.usada.org/media/sanction-wenzel382013

Not only is the sport full of cheaters, but so is the old boy network that runs it. They seem to have refused to implement any testing at all until masters track records were about to be thrown out:

http://masterstrack.com/2011/11/20651/

And notice the title of the above story, referring to normal drug testing as extortion. This comes from a douchebag named Ken Stone who was once quoted by the Washington Post as saying that "drug testing goes against the ethic of Master Track."

Ethic? What ethic? It seems like they're ALL on drugs.

I don't personally know of anybody doping in master's track, but apparently it is rampant.

Like d, I don't compete in masters stuff--just open meets. My mid/high 11.x still lets me finish within sight of the winners, so I'm still OK. As soon as it gets embarrassing, either in a meet or in practice, I'm outta' there.

I would love to know the feeling of doping, with my torn rotator cuff (getting better), and my currently torn butt/ham (also getting better). I've never been invincible, I have had these types of "nicknack injuries", as Gatlin termed them, ever since I can remember.

I can totally see that at some point, masters are presented with a decision: either cut back a lot or quit to maintain health better, or dope to continue training and competing.

My choice will be an easy one, since I have a life, and am not trying to recapture high school glory, as are many. I think when I quit to do some different sport, I will try my hand at informal coaching of kids, to stay around the track.

Hopefully I will have another decent couple of years, where the injuries are at least manageable.

Doping master = EDDY !!

What's even worse than the Old Boy Network is the decision of who to test. There are several masters "hall of fame" members with suspicious bodies and performances. A few of the women are running better times than they did 10 years ago! There's one with a voice so low she sounds like a man. I doubt we will ever hear of them testing positive because they simply are not tested. A positive test for one of these "icons" with multiple records would shake masters athletes to the core.

There is decent $ out there for some of the big time masters' events so I would not put it past a small # to try and take a shortcut. Most of them, however, are very gifted, work very hard to be the best, have performed at or near the top @ every level, including the 40+ scene and have been and always will be clean. I would have no problem with more vigilante policing @ this level.

another conspiracy theorist on LRC?

wiefranz wrote:

There are threads and reports on record-holders and medalists who are suspected of being doped but never on world class masters who set national and international age group records. Why that? Are they clean, unsuspected mature ladies and gentlemen? Or are they simply of no interest?

"but NEVER on world class masters"--do you really think you're the first to ponder this question or start a thread on this topic?

masters are indeed subject to the same accusations, innuendos and actual busts that open runners are, albeit on a smaller scale. in my short time as a masters athlete, i will admit to being more cynical now than when i started, but unlike others posting here, i would never let that interfere with doing something i love: competing. while i'll also admit to getting an ego boost beating young and old alike (and it's this boost that makes it easy to stay clean since it wouldn't be present if my performances were due to anything other than good ol' fashioned hard work), most of the time i'm not really competing with those around me anyway....

coach d wrote:

There is a LOT of doping in Masters Track, and it includes top people. That's the number one reason why I personally don't compete in masters track at all.

...VERY WEAK EXCUSE!!!!..the real reason is that you are probably overweight, too lazy to put in the kind of work necessary to do well, and probably just not very talented.

I do not disagree that there are some masters that have unfortunately gone to PEDs...look at Eddy, as an example.

I do feel however that it is a very very small percentage of the top masters that have or do this.

I personally know and run with some of the top masters runners in the country whom hold or have held many national age group records. I can honestly tell you that we are ALL 100% clean.

I have sometime overheard people saying, "that guy has got to be on PEDS to run that fast" Some people hate to admit it, because it makes them look like an inferior runner, but it first takes a lot of natural talent. On top of that, a HELL of a lot of work that most people are unwilling to do!!

coach d wrote:

There is a LOT of doping in Masters Track, and it includes top people. That's the number one reason why I personally don't compete in masters track at all.

...VERY WEAK EXCUSE!!!!..the real reason is that you are probably overweight, too lazy to put in the kind of work necessary to do well, and probably just not very talented.

I do not disagree that there are some masters that have unfortunately gone to PEDs...look at Eddy, as an example.

I do feel however that it is a very very small percentage of the top masters that have or do this.

I personally know and run with some of the top masters runners in the country whom hold or have held many national age group records. I can honestly tell you that we are ALL 100% clean.

I have sometime overheard people saying, "that guy has got to be on PEDS to run that fast" Some people hate to admit it, because it makes them look like an inferior runner, but it first takes a lot of natural talent. On top of that, a HELL of a lot of work that most people are unwilling to do!!

It's much easier to figure out who is doping as a master. Father Time is rather merciless. Some lucky ones can hold it at bay for awhile but one can never truly outrun it. Look at those whose times have not suffered a drop off from age 35 or 40 into their 50's. The 50's are a very tough age. Testosterone levels decline approx 1% per year for men starting at age 30 and menopause hits the women. That's when the slowdown really starts. If you have an athlete who has suffered little if any drop off after reaching the early 50's, there may be artificial assistance involved.

Since I'm pretty sure that all my friends in Masters athletics are clean, and they would cease to be friends if they weren't, it would be great to see more testing at the bigger events.

Like Brazil. Presumably they need to get lots of practice for Rio. Great opportunity to test tons of athletes.

--

I can, however, see a legitimate problem as people get older (I'm thinking sixties and definitely seventies here). There probably is a good medical case for drugs to aid recovery and muscle building in anyone of an advanced enough age, and if the sport bans everything it will get difficult. Eventually masters' sport will need to end up with some consensus on who can take what in which decade.

You also have to accept that if anyone is having fun running and organising masters athletics for enough decades, they will start to lose a few of their marbles and say dumb stuff once in a while. The young manage that too.

.

L

Why in the world would you not compete in masters "only" meet...because you "suspect" some are using PEDs? Is it not best to compete to see just how well you can perform "personnelly" against whoever shows up? And in the end, it's about personnel performance....right?

I've posted this in the past...all you have to do is go to the Dr. and complain that you're tired and feeling a little off...you'll get a prescription for testosterone and all you have to do is figure out the right amount to use to increase your levels so you can compete at a higher level. Goes on all the time, according to my medical friends. Also look at these Masters who win local races and get cash prizes..it must be worth it to them.

soon to be master wrote:

Yes, it's pretty common for masters to dope.

I am 39 and have consulted with a few local area runners on the best way to dope as I approach 40.

I saw a masters male and masters female doper at the Los Gatos All Comers meet today. The guy was busted at the WMA Championships in 2011. The woman has been running faster than she did 10 years ago and has muscles popping out all over her body. What idiots.