I was offered a presciption for steroids in 1952. I went to the library and found out what they were and I told my doctor no.
I knew all kinds of athletes who took them I don't think any one really benefitted from their use.
George Park
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Matt S
Consider, we have many USMS participants with serious medical problems who have valid medical reasons to take the medications they receive. Even if we devoted the resources on the level of World Anti-Doping Agency (or whatever the new Olympic drug testers call themselves) to catch "drug cheats," what is the urinalysis gonna tell us? "Yup, I take steroids for my asthma/ lupus/whatever. Want to see my prescription?" Are we really prepared to tell these folks they have to choose between competing at USMS and getting appropriate treatment for their condition? I think not.
I'm not proposing that we institute drug testing, but your post is inaccurate. Not all steroids are banned. Asthmatics may use prednisolone, for example, which is a corticosteroid, a steroid hormone without androgenic (performance-enhancing) properties. Consequently, swimmers would not have to choose between competing or taking medications that are needed to treat a legitimate medical condition. Drug testing methods have become very sophisticated and can detect the banned steroids.
Originally posted by Matt S
Consider, we have many USMS participants with serious medical problems who have valid medical reasons to take the medications they receive. Even if we devoted the resources on the level of World Anti-Doping Agency (or whatever the new Olympic drug testers call themselves) to catch "drug cheats," what is the urinalysis gonna tell us? "Yup, I take steroids for my asthma/ lupus/whatever. Want to see my prescription?" Are we really prepared to tell these folks they have to choose between competing at USMS and getting appropriate treatment for their condition? I think not.
I'm not proposing that we institute drug testing, but your post is inaccurate. Not all steroids are banned. Asthmatics may use prednisolone, for example, which is a corticosteroid, a steroid hormone without androgenic (performance-enhancing) properties. Consequently, swimmers would not have to choose between competing or taking medications that are needed to treat a legitimate medical condition. Drug testing methods have become very sophisticated and can detect the banned steroids.
