Illegal drugs in masters meet - I'm heartbroken

Jim- you are a trouble maker, aren't you? I certainly wasn't thinking of our beloved occasionally cranky Smith brothers, nor anyone else in our little online community. Really! In fact, the only time I've run into that sort of attitude in Masters swimming was at Baltimore LCNats a few years ago, where I tried to introduce myself to a few fellow competitors that were more than a little unfriendly (a distinct minority)- like I said though, not necessarily symptomatic of anything other than obnoxious personality disorder. And before the Geek suggests it, I didn't say anything to these guys about putrid, watery American beer...

Originally posted by Karen Duggan Craig, I'll give it a try. Question, for you Cardiologist, although you might be more able to answer as a swimmer! What do you do for bicep tendonitis, or anyone who has had this? I've never had swimming related shoulder/arm injuries and this isn't either, but I can't swim because of it. I haven't been to the doctor. My husband (Mr. MS in Exercise Phys.) thinks it's bicep tendonitis- it's at the top of my arm, on the outside, and hurts like a you-know-what I lift it. I know it's not bursitis, I've had that. Our assumption is that it's from lifting little ones all the time (too bad I love them so much!). I've iced it and Advil'd it; got in the other night and was SO frustrated- I can't lift my arm for overhead recovery in free, NOOOO backstroke (extremely big owies), no insweep motion for breaststroke (OWWWWWW!) and I'm so smart I didn't even try fly! Help anyone? Thanks. You probably should have it checked out. Around here, you can go in for a free sports med evaluation if you have a problem. They have early morning hours, and after hours, and trainers take a look at your problem and determine if you need a doctor, or if stretching, icing, ect will help.

Penguin, who says you still can't beat people using illegal substances by just working harder? And how do you know if someone is cheating? If you're on the blocks at a meet with five -- or seven -- others in the same heat, you still have the opportunity to win. It comes from within. Yes, a "cheater" might have drugs inside him or her that can aid in finishing a race, but he or she most likely isn't as mentally determined to win as you, because they simply believe the drugs will carry them to a win, and don't know how to mentally finish a race if you're within a fingernail or touching him/her out. Stay the course, penguin.

penguin4501, You stay the course. There are "cheaters" throughout life. Better to be observant and informed while you continue your athletic pursuit than to unknowingly have your head in the sand. Fact: There is no quitting because of a few cheaters. If there are people out there cheating in Masters swimming using things like Steriods, HGH, EPO or THG like drugs.... they're even bigger losers than if they were cheating and swimming "for real" at an elite level like US nationals. Remember ......... "It's just Masters Swimming"....... :-) Life goes on. John Smith

Just out of curiosity, is there any kind of testing done at the national or international competitions? I used to compete in natural bodybuilding competitions, and the competition seemed for the most part to be on the up & up. Each competitor would be polygraphed, and the winner of each weight class would be urine tested. Again, just curious. Thanks.

The point is, work hard now as those who are using illegal substances will die off soon. That means more top 10 spots open to you and me in the future. As with "cheaters" or, in a more pc fashion, those who modify workouts or take illegal substances or enter your definition of cheating, race 'em anyway. You may surprise yourself and still outswim the "cheaters." It's possible. I spawn this thread off the "illegal drugs" thread because this is not really a discussion on illegal drugs in masters meet. To be honest to you guys, the thread really broke my heart. I'm a newbie in masters swimming and I've been working my a** off to improve my strokes and time, so that I can eventually win something in a masters swim meet. I will never ever cheat, it's against my principle. Well ... if people are cheating in masters meet, then I start to wonder what's the point of working so hard on improving my stroke and time. Swimming is not my career, I love doing it and it's a healthy hobby for me. What's the point of entering a master's swim meet? Isn't it stupid to be so hard headed? Maybe you guys can give me some reasons why I should continue to work hard and having "winning a masters swim meet" as a goal. Thank You!

I don't know about Masters Rules in the US (or Internationally). In Canada, our Masters Swimming, Canada has a rule that says CMGR 2.05. Drug Testing a) There shall be no drug testing at sanctioned Masters swim meets in Canada. Therefore it's not illegal to use drugs (in Masters swimming in Canada). However my point is that we swim against ourselves and against the clock. It's only an illusory win if I'm in lane 4 and the other six or seven swimmers in my heat are way older and way slower than me. I might touch the wall first in my heat but then find my name at the bottom of the list of the meet's age group result sheet. Even that "seemingly-poor" result is not bad -for me- if my time this year is faster than last year's. For that matter, if it's the same as last year's, this "standing still" is really a 1% improvement (due to aging. I'm 64) That's my $0.03 (Canadian) worth

Overdeveloped trap muscles also a sign of something fishy going on in the "supplement" department. Shoulder shrugs and neck lifts can only do so much... So anyone seen a roid abuser on the blocks lately?

There are no drug tests is for US Masters Swimmers in the US. FINA does not have drug tests at the FINA World Masters Championships nor it have any at Stanford. In talking with the Executive Director of FINA, there is no desire to drug test masters swimmers. FINA already spends over $1,000,000 USD a year in out of compeition drug testing for elite athletes and that takes a lot of time and resourses, imagine having to test Masters who may be taking perscription medicine for medical conditions - it would be a nightmare. michael

HGH Ah Human Growth Hormone,...is it really cheating to take some of this to enhance my well being and I also happen to swim? There are some doctors, a distinct minority I admit, who believe in something called adrenopause and when our natural hormones start dropping in middle aged they need to be supplemented. You can get antiaging doctors to prescribe HGH for you and some people who take it swear by it. As for dying off who knows it may make you live longer and feel younger. I personally wonder if you love it maybe those tumors in your body love it more.