Jo72 wrote:
But it seems rather unlikely that microdosing of such a kind would have effects similar to the massive doses used in the 70s and 80s with steroids and later with EPO, doesn't it? If the doses are far smaller because of better and more frequent controls why are the sprinters so good (actually better than back then, even the women are getting closer, if not to Flojo than to the Eastern bloc 100/200 times).
Well for one, "micro"dosing is a misleading term at best. For example we have seen that athletes still can use 200 ml blood transfusions (in virtual unlimited frequency!) instead of the traditional 500 ml.
Secondly, there are always new drugs, commonly known examples are HGH, EPO, and the speed peptide. Yes, they are tested for, but always a few years later. Also see comment one, and the new drugs come in addition to the old drugs.
Thirdly, everything else improves too, including training, nutrition, track, shoes, so we should see a steady improvement from decade to decade if doping wouldn't matter. Yet, the times from Koch, Kratochvílová, FloJo, Komen, El G, Radcliffe, Bekele and Bolt from earlier decades continue to remain unreachable - for now, but not forever, see above.