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
Something to remember that everything on the banned list is not a 'performance enhancer' - some items are banned because they are masking agents (capable of concealing/hiding the presence of a banned performane enhancer - can't remember the US swimmer from several years ago who was banned because her drug test, not because of a performance enhancer, but because of an abnormally high amount of a birth control drug, commonly used to mask the presence of other drugs).
The athletes who are taking the drugs could rationalize it in so many ways;
All the other athletes are taking it, so I'm not really doing it to get ahead I'm just trying to stay even.
or
The drugs I'm taking aren't on the banned list.
or
It's only cheating if you get caught.
So the question is how overbearing and expensive do we want the Masters governing body to be ? Frankly I don't see our level of sport being overthrown by a bunch of scientifically, medically, genetically engineered swimmers to warrant such concern.
Something to remember that everything on the banned list is not a 'performance enhancer' - some items are banned because they are masking agents (capable of concealing/hiding the presence of a banned performane enhancer - can't remember the US swimmer from several years ago who was banned because her drug test, not because of a performance enhancer, but because of an abnormally high amount of a birth control drug, commonly used to mask the presence of other drugs).
The athletes who are taking the drugs could rationalize it in so many ways;
All the other athletes are taking it, so I'm not really doing it to get ahead I'm just trying to stay even.
or
The drugs I'm taking aren't on the banned list.
or
It's only cheating if you get caught.
So the question is how overbearing and expensive do we want the Masters governing body to be ? Frankly I don't see our level of sport being overthrown by a bunch of scientifically, medically, genetically engineered swimmers to warrant such concern.
