Masters Swimming and Illegal Supplements

This question is more complicated for Masters swimmers than it is for USA swimmers. Why? Because Masters swimmers take a variety of medications for legitimate health reasons. Several medications may have performance enhancing qualities. Others may inhibit performance. I'm assuming this question is not directed toward those people, but unfortunately, drug testing in Masters swimming would include people who take medications for health reasons. Does USMS want to send a message to those swimmers that they cannot take the medications they need for their health? No. Aside from records, what incentives do Masters swimmers have to take performance enhancing drugs that are not required for their health? College scholarships? Endorsements? Olympics? In most cases, probably not. Personally, I'm really more of a fitness swimmer pretending to be a competitor -- so other people setting records is not something that affects me. In my opinion, if a Masters swimmer wants to take a performance enhancing drug with so little incentive, they already suffer the appropriate consequences. They have to look at themselves in the mirror each day. They also have to take responsibility for any health consequences these performance enhancing drugs may have. ~SB

This question is more complicated for Masters swimmers than it is for USA swimmers. Why? Because Masters swimmers take a variety of medications for legitimate health reasons. Several medications may have performance enhancing qualities. Others may inhibit performance. I'm assuming this question is not directed toward those people, but unfortunately, drug testing in Masters swimming would include people who take medications for health reasons. Does USMS want to send a message to those swimmers that they cannot take the medications they need for their health? No. Aside from records, what incentives do Masters swimmers have to take performance enhancing drugs that are not required for their health? College scholarships? Endorsements? Olympics? In most cases, probably not. Personally, I'm really more of a fitness swimmer pretending to be a competitor -- so other people setting records is not something that affects me. In my opinion, if a Masters swimmer wants to take a performance enhancing drug with so little incentive, they already suffer the appropriate consequences. They have to look at themselves in the mirror each day. They also have to take responsibility for any health consequences these performance enhancing drugs may have. ~SB