www.nytimes.com/.../weight-lifter-80-labeled-a-cheat-but-he-has-a-story.html
An interesting story about an 80 year old competitive weight lifter who was DQ'ed after failing a drug test.
The subject of this story has set masters world records in weight lifting. He was also taking synthetic testosterone that was prescribed by his doctor for over 20 years.
Should this athlete be disqualified and his records struck from the books?
My question: How many athletes in our sport take performance enhancing drugs that are prescribed by a medical doctor (and set masters world records)?
To the best of my knowledge, USMS or FINA does not test masters athletes after record setting performances.
It sounds like he was taking way more than prescribed(or what should have been prescribed.) If so then he was cheating. If a guy is taking testosterone to get into the "normal" level that is not cheating IMHO,but the whole thing about "low T" is more the product of drug manufacturers than any real scientific evidence.
....so let's see. The US Anti Doping Agency, is going to tear this guy apart for a little testerone. The guy loses creditiblity etc. Cheat for life blah, blah, blah.
On the other hand, no disrepect, on Sunday the Emmys are going to praise Corey Monteith for his misreable failure at drug abuse. Shame on testerone. Hooray for Heroin. What a country we live in. Gotta love things like this.
My One-A-Day vitamins with Iron are next on the agenda for the US Anti Doping Agency. Your kids chewables are probably not safe anymore too.
Did anyone else notice the "$199 Testosterone Therapy" ad on top of this page? Just sayin'...
Former Member
I read this quote a while ago and it really stood out to me. Maybe you guys have some thoughts on it:
"Isn't it strange how upset people get about a few dozen baseball players taking growth hormones, when we're doing what we're doing to food animals and feeding them to our children?"
Jonathan Saffran Foer
Eating Animals
Who cares anymore. Our professional athletes are taking steriods, or something similar, if they are not abusing illegal drugs. Our olympian athletes are doing the same, and yes some of our USMS swim coaches out there are in that same boat, and boast about it. We also give performance enhancing drugs to quarter horses. Don't even get me going on our politicans. What's the big deal of some 80 y/o guy takes a little testerone to better his physical health in his later years. Our country is not going to be happy until it discredits everyone, and puts them all in the gutter.
What's the big deal of some 80 y/o guy takes a little testerone to better his physical health in his later years. If someone does have a medical hypogonad condition, say testosetrone at 100 units due to injury or whatever reason and requires therapy for reasons of maintaining health and proper function (not performance) then I think that person should not be banned if this therapy raises the level to what is average. Unfortunately, what is average? But if someone is taking roids prescribed medically and has no condition other than being a little older and has 1000+ ng/ml of the stuff in their bodies at 80 years old, one can't really classify this person as a competitor.
It sounds like he was taking way more than prescribed(or what should have been prescribed.) If so then he was cheating.
I realize this is only your opinion, but your statement isn't at all how USADA sees it.
www.usada.org/.../testosterone-guidelines.pdf
Having low testosterone isn't enough, for a TUE to be granted you need to identify specifically with data showing WHY your testosterone is low. Which gland or glands are not responding properly to your nervous system and possibly why that would be. THEN you might get a TUE.
It's a pretty high barrier to cross, not the least of which in terms of cost that medical insurance won't cover.
The idea is that your testosterone may simply be low, or that it may be low due to a lot of training; so simply having a low number isn't sufficient.
I think that is pretty spot on for athletes under the age of 25 or so. But if we are to apply the usada rules wholely to adults as is done in amateur triathon, cycling, running, and apparently weightlifting - then I think they should be modified. Specifically I'd like to see changed requirements where you need to document your low testosterone with X number of tests and if it is indeed low, then you are allowed to boost your testosterone to some sort of normal number for men your age.
This system can be gamed as indicated above, but on the other hand we are looking at some men having to choose between competing and their health because they have legitimate needs for additional testosterone.
Of course since USMS doesn't drug test, people can take whatever they want if they are in this sport.
↑ lol ↑
To "normal levels" is a question for me. We all get lower T with age , so what is normal? Do we get levels for each age bracket?
When your vette is in the garage for the winter levels will be below normal. When your driving it around spiritedly, expect above normal.
