I seem to remeber a female swimmer appearing on tv with a Balco hat on. If I remember correctly, she was talking about how she began training for the 200 Olmypics and was using products from this company. She was helping them develop products for swimmers. I'm not real sure but I was really surprised at the time becasue I had heard about Balco from a friend who lives in San Fransisco and is a body builder. I, at the time, was still recovering from lots of surgeries and he told me about all of their "wonderful" products.
Parents
Former Member
I also have asthma. Last I looked at the banned list albuterol isn't list, any more, I think. also, a puff of albuterol right before a race isn't going to help. It takes about 20 minutes for the effects to really take hold. There is true evidence that many of the new steroids will increase fast twitch muscle reaction time. It seems to me that this woudl truly help sprinters.
High level swimmers are tested very frequently. However, I do think that some swimmers take enhancing drugs. I think that some swimmers have seen what steroids have done to "improve" track and think "hey, we are the same -speed & power." also, there are some huge swimmer now. It used to be that many swimmers were very thin.
When I started this discussion, I was somewhat concerned becasue people are so freaked out about discussing steroid use in swimming. We truly want swimming to be seen as the great, sport full of peole who are honest and hard working. I think that our naiveity might have allowed some to pull wool over our eyes. I'm not talking about things like the whole Chinese or East German women's teams of the past. I bet there are several high- level high school kids who are juiced.
The whole Michael Phelps thing is a great avenue for coaches & parents to talk with their kids about the effects of alcohol, steroids & pot.
I also have asthma. Last I looked at the banned list albuterol isn't list, any more, I think. also, a puff of albuterol right before a race isn't going to help. It takes about 20 minutes for the effects to really take hold. There is true evidence that many of the new steroids will increase fast twitch muscle reaction time. It seems to me that this woudl truly help sprinters.
High level swimmers are tested very frequently. However, I do think that some swimmers take enhancing drugs. I think that some swimmers have seen what steroids have done to "improve" track and think "hey, we are the same -speed & power." also, there are some huge swimmer now. It used to be that many swimmers were very thin.
When I started this discussion, I was somewhat concerned becasue people are so freaked out about discussing steroid use in swimming. We truly want swimming to be seen as the great, sport full of peole who are honest and hard working. I think that our naiveity might have allowed some to pull wool over our eyes. I'm not talking about things like the whole Chinese or East German women's teams of the past. I bet there are several high- level high school kids who are juiced.
The whole Michael Phelps thing is a great avenue for coaches & parents to talk with their kids about the effects of alcohol, steroids & pot.
