USADA busts 56-yr old triathlete who was taking tesosterone with a doctors prescription

rojo wrote:

I'm always happy when drug cheats are caught but given USADA's limited resources shouldn't we be focusing on the pro athletes. Or maybe this sets an example??

Ironman has it's own testing resources, this came out of that. Interestingly most of these case are the result of targeted testing because of the tip line.

Testosterone abuse is rampant. I can't tell you how many body builders go to these low-t docs that advertise on the radio. It's nuts. This triathlete sounds just like all the rest.

Andrew Lee wrote:

darkwave wrote:

I take the opposite opinion:

1) I believe that everybody has a right to fair competition - it isn't something that should just be granted to the elites.

2) For masters runners, money and USATF titles can be at stake. There are some races that pay $1000 to the top master. Doesn't that justify testing, if your focus is on only testing the "high level"?

The problem with this is that each test will cost a race about $1000 to administer. So, with a limited budget of $1000, you could do one test and have no prize money. Or have a $1000 prize without testing.

Readers may gloss over this, but it is true.

To be sure, the only source available is ASADA fees. USADA hasn't publicized their fees, but here are ASADA's in AUD:

Full-screen urine# 950

Half-screen urine# 789

Urine ESA - analysis only on an existing collection 488

GHRFs (small) - analysis only on an existing collection 114

Full-screen urine combined with hGH - in hours 1,377

Half-screen urine combined with hGH - in hours 1,323

Blood ESA - analysis in conjunction with an existing blood collection^ 347

Additional charge per urine/blood combination - out of hours 274

I should say that the going conversion is 1.25 AUD to USD. The standard screening would be $700-$750 USD

joedirt wrote:

Testosterone abuse is rampant. I can't tell you how many body builders go to these low-t docs that advertise on the radio. It's nuts. This triathlete sounds just like all the rest.

I wouldn't say it's abuse if they're going to a low-T center or being treated by their primary care physician. But you're right...it's crazy with all the advertising for low-T centers you hear on the sports talk radio shows these days. Where I live, a retired football player who was on a SB winning team promos a low-T center on arguably the #1 sports talk show in the afternoon.

And I've talked to several middle-aged guys at the gym and at local race events who openly discuss their use of TRT. In fact, at one race last summer I shooting the crap with a couple of guys in my age-group when one gave me a business card of the low-T center he uses (maybe he gets a discount or something for referrals. Lol). So, with all these low-T centers cropping up across the nation, TRT must be a lucrative business. I know the catch phrase with a lot of these places is "know your numbers" (and guys on TRT seem to know their numbers down to the decimal. Lol). Even a NASCAR driver has sponsor from a low-T center:

I mostly agree, u think you should lump together the 18-55 ag and still go based on placement, but you need to be within 15-20% of winning time.

theJeff wrote:

harry wales wrote:

A TUE still gives you an advantage over your rivals. Should I be given a TUE because I have an inefficient running form?

No. It gives a competitor who is at a disadvantage equal footing with his peers. Similarly, you are allowed to improve your sh!tty running form.

Most competitors are at a disadvantage and not on equal footing to their peers from day one. There is no reason to change the rules later in life.

joedirt wrote:

Testosterone abuse is rampant. I can't tell you how many body builders go to these low-t docs that advertise on the radio. It's nuts. This triathlete sounds just like all the rest.

Testosterone sales revenue is big business:

One man's journey with low-T:

The worst things about those ads is that they always say "the safe and effective way". The truth is men's testosterone production drops as we age, and it does it for a reason, all these low-T centers are profiting off of the idea that we are supposed to stay young forever. The side effects of testosterone therapy are increased risk of blood clots, cardio vascular issues, increased likelihood of certain cancers, etc. I find it ironic that on the talk shows they will be criticizing athletes who treat with PEDs, but at the same time have the low-T ads that are basically fueling PEDs to the masses.

I would imagine this is a user pays test meaning that USADA are paid by the NGB to conduct the test. Makes it look like there is a firmer stance by the sport on anti doping by making amateurs the scape goats. Having said that doping is just as rampant in amateur sport as it is elite (just less sophisticated due to less risk of testing

Good. This is money well spent. The bang for the buck is not catching one noncompetitive cheater, but in putting some fear into cheaters, even in lower divisions. To catch an elite cheater, it takes state-of-the art tests and a whole system of surprise checks and biological passports. That's incredibly expensive. But it's just $1000 to bust some low-level cheater and let the word get out. If that keeps cheaters out of the road races I run, all the better.

theJeff wrote:

harry wales wrote:

A TUE still gives you an advantage over your rivals. Should I be given a TUE because I have an inefficient running form?

No. It gives a competitor who is at a disadvantage equal footing with his peers. Similarly, you are allowed to improve your sh!tty running form.

LIFE doesn't give everyone an equal footing. Should I be given extra time to take my SAT because I am a dumb cluck?

How am I allowed to improve my running form, that Rupp is excluded from using same methods?

joedirt wrote:

The worst things about those ads is that they always say "the safe and effective way". The truth is men's testosterone production drops as we age, and it does it for a reason, all these low-T centers are profiting off of the idea that we are supposed to stay young forever. The side effects of testosterone therapy are increased risk of blood clots, cardio vascular issues, increased likelihood of certain cancers, etc. I find it ironic that on the talk shows they will be criticizing athletes who treat with PEDs, but at the same time have the low-T ads that are basically fueling PEDs to the masses.

Because it's all about the money. And for the guys who are loaded they're not messing with T - they're going for HGH.

harry wales wrote:

theJeff wrote:

No. It gives a competitor who is at a disadvantage equal footing with his peers. Similarly, you are allowed to improve your sh!tty running form.

LIFE doesn't give everyone an equal footing. Should I be given extra time to take my SAT because I am a dumb cluck?

How am I allowed to improve my running form, that Rupp is excluded from using same methods?

What about diabetics? Should they not be permitted to use insulin? They need it to live. Just like everyone needs water to live. Should we ban water too? That has a performance enhancing effect also, although it isn’t banned of course.

embarrassingly stupid

some people need it ... for health!!!!

duhhhhh