51-Year-Old Recreational Masters Runner Tests Positive For Doctor Prescribed DHEA, Gets 1-Year Drug Ban

What I think is that this is much more common than the casual fan might think. I've been to races recently where 55 year olds were running sub 17:30 5ks and who looked like body builders. It's pretty easy to find a doctor who will prescribe testosterone and these local races almost never test. For the runners who do this, there's plenty of upsides, even without big prize money, and virtually no risk. They look good, they get some athletic glory etc etc.

Obviously, only her doctor and she know whether she has a medical need for DHEA, but in the cursory search I just did, it looks to me like it's pretty clearly a PED. She has a professional motivation to take it, too. Right or wrong many people will choose a PT who is a successful athlete over one who is not.

Why did she even pee in the cup?

Joke really, IMO, for usada to be testing her at a race like this. But, if I'm reading athlinks right, she looks to have a few 1:30 ish halfs, which, for a lady of her age is pretty good. It's also a pretty common name, so...

Otherwise, she doesn't seem to race much beyond these whacky trail runs and I agree that she doesn't seem to be chasing glory, money, etc.

I like her attitude.

Just ban her from getting prize money and let her run.

I do - though - dislike her attitude that she is above drug testing. Granted the DHEA she took is probably legit but it still does improve her performance.

Always read the website and the waiver.

From the website in a fairly prominent spot:

"Drug Testing

As a participant in the Pikes Peak Ascent and/or Marathon you are subject to drug testing pursuant to USDA standards and procedures, and you acknowledge this notification and your willingness to be so tested. "

By signing up for the race she agreed to drug testing. Her wide-eyed innocent surprise is a bit ingenuous.

Ha ha, it actually says USDA. She should get off on a technicality! Unless Agriculture dept is now conducting the testing.

So if someones body is not self-regulating correctly what should they do? Her performance is likely 'improving' to the level she should actually be at if her body was functioning correctly. If someone with a thyroid or hypothyroid problem can take things to ensure their hormonal levels are normal, then yes, a 51 year old woman in need of hormone regulation should be able to as well and still compete.

MikeM wrote:

So if someones body is not self-regulating correctly what should they do? Her performance is likely 'improving' to the level she should actually be at if her body was functioning correctly. If someone with a thyroid or hypothyroid problem can take things to ensure their hormonal levels are normal, then yes, a 51 year old woman in need of hormone regulation should be able to as well and still compete.

See it the opposite- you shouldn't be competing at the pro Master's level if you're trying to 'defy' age with hormones. No sympathy for this woman and should be a wake-up call to other Master's not to do this.

senior citizen athlete wrote:

I understand how USADA might say she could not participate in USATF sanctioned races for a year, but I don't understand how they can claim they have a right to test her any time in the future when she is not a member of USATF.

It wouldn't make a lot of sense to allow people to avoid testing by simply not currently being a member of USATF. People could become members right before they race, and avoid all out-of-competition testing.

They are only claiming that they have a right to test her IF she wants to be eligible for awards in USATF sanctioned events. They obviously have no right to test her if she refuses to be tested.

senior citizen athlete wrote:

I understand how USADA might say she could not participate in USATF sanctioned races for a year, but I don't understand how they can claim they have a right to test her any time in the future when she is not a member of USATF.

USADA is independent of USATF. You don't have to be a USATF member to be drug tested.

I couldn't tell from reading the article whether or not she won money. DId she?

If she won money and failed a drug test and had no TUE she at least needs to be stripped of her place and winnings. Otherwise, I agree with her and don't know why someone would spend time checking her and also don't see why this would really be a problem for her. she can just ignore the whole business.

As a 60+ female with 40 years of competition (elite in the early days,) I am very happy that this woman was caught. The decline in performance for women over 50 is demoralizing to all women, especially when some women seem to consistently defy their years. Masters, and older, mostly have not been drug tested, even when they were young elites, so unless they made an Olympic Team (and even then there were cover-ups) no one can ever be certain what performances were "natural" or not. Yes, drugs certainly help to supply testosterone that makes a woman stronger and tougher as she ages, but to compete "dirty" is wrong yet we see it all the time. Usually women complain to MDs about sexual dysfunction so they get testosterone in cream. Not as certain how much help DHEA is, or how to dose it, but certainly it would put the consistent user at a huge advantage.

There are usually only bragging rights on the line, but if it OK because of age to take PEDs then by all means, make it legal and tell all of us how to do it if it "helps " our health and not just our performance as this woman claims. The playing field for women has never been level for anyone who would have competed in the open division prior to about the 1996 Olympics (if then). Anorexic or skinny women are not strong and fast much after 50 unless they take "hormone replacement" drugs to avoid stress fractures and maintain muscle mass. Why not look up the scant number of drug tests on top women over 55 and see just how safe it is for them to "cheat" for medical reasons.

"See it the opposite- you shouldn't be competing at the pro Master's level if you're trying to 'defy' age with hormones."

See it overall- you shouldn't be competing at ANY level if you're trying to 'defy' 'your' God-given health with hormones.

In other words, no TUEs allowed for any reason whatsoever.

HRE, I'm normally a fan of your common sense posts on this board (and I love to hear the Lydiard stuff), but disagree with you 100% here. If she's signing up and racing competitively (prize money or no), she shouldn't be using DHEA and its ilk. Full stop. Prize money shouldn't be the criterion. Let's face it: for us masters runners, we're competing against ourselves but also against each other (for pride, ego, the thrill of competition, whatever you want to call it), and this lady is flat out cheating. On a separate note (and not directed to HRE), I think her cavalier attitude about it is disgusting. I'm not sure whether it's sincere, but it's sure as hell f-ing arrogant. How about something like this instead: "I genuinely didn't realize that this was against the rules but I apologize to my competitors and to the race organizers...." The whole faux-bemused thing makes me wish the ban was far longer. As ML said, it's disheartening to suffer the decline in performance that we masters suffer but most of us (I think) are plugging away despite the near-universal "low" testosterone panels, etc. This woman, whether sincere or not (though, as above, her reaction and denials re receiving a benefit are infuriating), is taking an illegal short cut.

HRE wrote:

I couldn't tell from reading the article whether or not she won money. DId she?

If she won money and failed a drug test and had no TUE she at least needs to be stripped of her place and winnings. Otherwise, I agree with her and don't know why someone would spend time checking her and also don't see why this would really be a problem for her. she can just ignore the whole business.

She's a cheater. But she was caught and banned. Rejoice.

So they are testing the 'small' athletes but not the 'big' names? Its amazing what Nike, I mean money, can do.

TUE defying wrote:

"See it the opposite- you shouldn't be competing at the pro Master's level if you're trying to 'defy' age with hormones."

See it overall- you shouldn't be competing at ANY level if you're trying to 'defy' 'your' God-given health with hormones.

In other words, no TUEs allowed for any reason whatsoever.

Good point- agree.

If drugs aren't allowed for the Open athletes, they shouldn't be allowed for the competitive Master's athletes either. Period.

If I was taking a drug for my health, and it gave me an advantage over other

runners, then I wouldn't race against them, because I didn't beat them, the drug did.