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.
Former Member
From the contrary side. I can sort of understand your opinions but I have a hard time agreeing with you. I don't know how many masters swimmers use illegal performance enhancing drugs for the purpose of enhancing performance. My guess is it's too small a percentage to worry about. More than a few probably take them because of legit physical ailments. Testing would be a waste of time and at best damaging to our sport. Most everyone has already said that.
On the legal supplement side. I tend to give most people the benefit of the doubt and assume they are making an informed decision and they've weighed the pros and cons before they injest whatever they take. I also don't know where you draw the line on which legal substanes are OK and which aren't. You think you've got the qualifications to make those decisions for the rest of the world? I'd also bet the long term health damage caused by alcohol to swimmers is going to be greater than all other substances put together.
For the record, I don't take drugs or vitamins or protein shakes, etc. I don't care who does and the choices other people make don't disgust me a bit.
Fritz
I agree with most of what you're saying, and, no I don't have the qualifications to make decisions on performance-enhancing drugs/supplements for the rest of the world.
The thread discussion, however, seems to me to suggest that, while health is an issue, much of the concern is over the unfair advantage athletes may be receiving. You could argue that access to better facilities, coaching, and equipment all present unfair advantages. And it seems that something Masters Swimming may not be able to provide is a level playing field. I don't think that Masters Swimming could or should do testing.
Undoubtedly, there are some people taking interesting medications for non-medicinal reasons. Other sports with masters age athletes (Track & Field, weightlifting, etc) have seen this occur. However, please keep testing out of masters - we really don't need all the lawsuits, bickering, and finger-pointing.
If someone really needs my age group 3rd place ribbon (if I'm lucky) for some open water swim bad enough that they need to risk their health, please just ask me for it - I'll give it to you.
-LBJ
I'll second that Leonard, the fact that someone would spend hundreds of dollars for their 'dietery supplements' to improve their swim time to win a medal / trophy, when they could take a few bucks to the local Awards-Trophy shop and purchase one to put on their mantel is beyond me.
I vaguely remember something about a survey from several years back involving some elite athletes. The question was if you could take a supplement that would enhance your performance, wasn't detectable (maybe was worded as being legal) but would shorten your lifespan by several years, would you take it - on that survey the scary part was something like 70% said they would. This was probably about 10 years ago, not sure if anyone else had heard of this ?
Jeff
I don't want testing either. I would just like to hear our voices raised sufficiently to get through the thick heads of recreational masters athletes that using yourself as a guinea pig for compounds & drugs of unknown effect & potency is just plain stupid. I do light weights (really light) at a family gym & pool complex (private club) & hear constantly about creatine from guys who don't even compete in anything & just want to get large & 'ripped'. That annoys me enough, but when I go to large meets I always hear the same sort of talk & when I try to express that it is just plain stupid to use your aging body as a test laboratory for legal allegedly performance &/or capacity-enhancing drugs I get regarded as an old-fashioned dinosaur. Just letting off steam.
MLB players Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi have to testify before a grand jury regarding steroid use. Steroids are everywhere. They're a part of all sports. You can't compete without them.
Only reason swimming can fly under the radar screen is because it's not a mainstream sport. As a result, nothing will be done about it in swimming.
Masters swimming is probably one of the few areas where the average age goes far beyond that of the typical sport. It seems that the professional athletes and world class competitors in their twenties have the most to gain by getting to the top with the help of pills and powders.
It's probably a stretch that fitness oriented adults would want to risk health benefits because of a potential trophy. But you never know? I'm gonna ask grandpa in the lane next to me what's in that water bottle at our next practice. He looks a little too fit for his early sixties. :)
The USA Swimming website has a section addressing supplements. The bottom line: take at your own risk. Apparently an investigation of 900 supplements found that 15% contain substances which would yield a positive drug test.
In the UK today it is alleged that Dwayne Chambers, one of our top sprinters has tested positive for THG. The 'B' sample has not been tested yet so it is not definite.
There is also the story of 'Balco' labs and Barry Bonds and other clients of them on the site.
The BBC website has good info on this: news.bbc.co.uk/.../3210876.stm
There is no way that we can drug test in Masters. There is no prize money, so why cheat. I also don't think that the improvements for someone aged 40 - 50 would be that great.
Could i go from 30 seconds for the 50m free to 25.5 seconds just by taking some drugs ? I don't think so ! The time difference is down to the faster swimmer having a great body for swimming, great ankle and shoulder flexibility, years of effective training, superior technique and a superior cardio - vascular system. Some steroid cannot make all that up.
A swimmer who already has all of these attributes could maybe gain 5%. But seriously if the swimmer was this good and inclined to cheat then they would be on the senior circuit where they could win some money not swimming at masters meets !!!
