Steriods & swimming

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.

This morning, I was asked if anyone ever said what the patches the women were had on during trials were. I don't remember if anyone ever said wha they were. Were the patches ever discussed?

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com This morning, I was asked if anyone ever said what the patches the women were had on during trials were. I don't remember if anyone ever said wha they were. Were the patches ever discussed? I remember some article on the web. It reported that the women on the Stanford swim team wore them for trials and that the patches were "herb" all organic bla bla bla... There was a statement that I read that said something to the effect of: Richard Quick (eluding to his god like coaching status in US Women's swimming) should be/is smarter than to have his swimmers go into a meet with such an obvious sign of cheating or edge over everyone else in the pool... Found the article so disregard the babbling above! msnbc.msn.com/.../5562099 USADA to investigate swimming patches Energy enhancement to be tested for testosterone; company president furious The Associated Press Updated: 6:30 p.m. ET July 30, 2004 STANFORD, Calif. - Specially treated energy patches used by swimmers at the Olympic trials earlier this month will be sent to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for testing amid concerns the patches contain testosterone. The president of the company that makes the LifeWave Energy Enhancer called the accusation ridiculous and said the patch contains only amino acids and water-based solutions. “I can understand why coaches or athletes would have questions, because this technology is very new, very different,” David Schmidt told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I think it’s a very good thing for sports. It’s a way for athletes to improve their performance and not endanger their health.” Officials with the anti-doping agency would not confirm they received the patches. “It’s our policy not to comment on current investigations,” USADA spokesman Travis T. Tygart said Friday. “I can say that we’re appreciative of those individuals or entities that come forward with information.” Six female swimmers at Stanford University wore the patches on their shoulders during the trials, held July 7-14 in Long Beach. Only two of the women made the U.S. team — sisters Tara and Dana Kirk in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter butterfly, respectively. Nonetheless, national team director Everett Uchiyama asked Stanford women’s coach Richard Quick for samples, which he provided. Those samples were forwarded to the agency. Quick, a three-time Olympic head coach who will serve as an assistant for the U.S. women’s team in Athens, defended the patches as a new training device he began using earlier this year. The patches are designed to electronically stimulate acupuncture points, inserting current into the body to help an athlete improve stamina, according to Schmidt. No substances enter the body, he said. Schmidt said his Suwanee, Ga.-based company recommends using them on any of four acupuncture points: on the wrists, on the chest, around the knees and on the inside of the ankles. He said a person’s stamina improves within 10 minutes of using the product. 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Steroids would probably be the last thing elite swimmers would be taking, if anything it would be EPO which until this year could not be detected. Also, as far as 14/15 year old kids....don't forget the East German (and Chinease) programs! Unlikely that we'd find such a systematic program anywhere here but don't kid yourself.....there ARE parents (and coaches) that would go that route. With the amount of money in sports its unlikely that we'll ever see a worldwdie effort to seriouslly reign in drug use. When we see consistent out of competition testing and life time bans we may see a change! (unlike baseball that allows5 positive tests till any action was taken, and Hockey that doens't test!)