In 1988, after Carl Lewis was awarded the gold medal in the 100M dash when Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids, (I believe it was) Lewis stated that he was not really that surprised because he just didn't think that it was humanly possible to run the 100m in 9.79 (Johnson's winning time).
In the past 3 years, 2 american’s have euqaled or surpassed that time.
In today’s Houston Chronicle there is a tiny article (which is a true disappointment considering the magnitude of the accusations) that reads as follows:
According to Terry Madden, the chief executive of the US anti-doping agency: "What we have unconverted appears to be intentional doping of the worst sort (...) this is a conspiracy involving chemists, coaches and certain athletes using what they developed to be undetectable designer steroids to defraud their fellow competitors and the American and world public"
The drug in question is known as THG and though no athletes were named, it appears that several prominent athletes are a party to this.
I also know for a FACT, that some elite swimmers know of the drug, and believe it is undetectable.
*** This is in no way intimating that any specific athlete has or is using the substance.
Parents
Former Member
The consequences of steroid, EPO abuse and the like are fairly well known. What is not exactly known in most cases is the amount/duration at which negative things occur, especially since many of these affect individuals differently.
Some interesting fact, however:
1) I am quoting from fuzzy memory here, but I'm sure that some digging on google might produce the source... Some years back a Ukrainian group did a statistical analysis of the age of death of Soviet Olympic athletes from the 1950's (when the Soviets first competed in the Olympics) to whatever was current at the time of the study. Since there is fairly strong circumstancial evidence that the Soviets did have an extensive Olympic drug plan in effect, the inference was to see what effect the (ab)use of steroids, etc had on mortality. They found that there was less than one chance in 400 that the number and demographic distribution of deaths might have occured naturally.
2) The numerous horror stories coming out of the former East Germany about athletes who were put on a drug program, who now are crippled, infertile, have other severe health problems or have died. The Stasi (East German secret police) files make direct links possible.
3) 17 (I think that is the number) Dutch and Belgian cyclists died in the mid-late 1990's period and their deaths were officially attributed to EPO usage.
Sure, feel free to abuse the crap if you want. Same thing if you want to play Russian roulette: Go ahead - I'm all for allowing Darwinism to improve the gene pool and just because stupidity is not illegal means that some people will abuse the privledge.
-LBJ
The consequences of steroid, EPO abuse and the like are fairly well known. What is not exactly known in most cases is the amount/duration at which negative things occur, especially since many of these affect individuals differently.
Some interesting fact, however:
1) I am quoting from fuzzy memory here, but I'm sure that some digging on google might produce the source... Some years back a Ukrainian group did a statistical analysis of the age of death of Soviet Olympic athletes from the 1950's (when the Soviets first competed in the Olympics) to whatever was current at the time of the study. Since there is fairly strong circumstancial evidence that the Soviets did have an extensive Olympic drug plan in effect, the inference was to see what effect the (ab)use of steroids, etc had on mortality. They found that there was less than one chance in 400 that the number and demographic distribution of deaths might have occured naturally.
2) The numerous horror stories coming out of the former East Germany about athletes who were put on a drug program, who now are crippled, infertile, have other severe health problems or have died. The Stasi (East German secret police) files make direct links possible.
3) 17 (I think that is the number) Dutch and Belgian cyclists died in the mid-late 1990's period and their deaths were officially attributed to EPO usage.
Sure, feel free to abuse the crap if you want. Same thing if you want to play Russian roulette: Go ahead - I'm all for allowing Darwinism to improve the gene pool and just because stupidity is not illegal means that some people will abuse the privledge.
-LBJ
