Drugs and Suppplements in Masters

I think amoung the nations who have masters swimmers, the USA has a very low percentage of drug/doping users. Over the counter steriods are available in some countries. But I have seen some USMS swimmers who "could have been" on steroids/EPO/HGH. When a swimmers suddenly drops 10 seconds per 100 and sets world records, it is suspect. Like Micheal Smith from Ireland, we first give the benefit of doubt. But I have seen men gain 15-20 pounds of muscle mass in ONE year! Now 5-8 pounds can happen, but even young 18 year olds would have trouble gaining that much. But with declining natural testerone and HGH levels, 20 pounds is VERY doubtfull. What is daming is the pimples on the back, the even deeper voice, the square jaw. Even more daming is when they suddenly disappear due to muscles torn off the bone, which can easily happen with steroids. I have seen many past Olympians coming back through Masters swimming. THere seems to be a three year process. First year they are struggling with the new techniques, the returning to training etc. But they are still making top 10 and perhaps top 5. Pure talent is good to have. The second year they have more fun, are starting to swim well with the new techniques, and are in the top 3-5 times. The third year they kick ass. But I have seen people who come out of no where, break world records with horrible form, and then suddenly dissapear. Fortunately I do not think I have ever come across a lady that was suspect. Now those who know Allen Stark, he must be on something to swim so fast!!! And those who know me must wonder how I can swim fast, and how I could be so good on the underwater. But truthfully both Allan and myself represent the skinny and fat, and obviously not the buff steroid look. Technique, technique, technique.:p Now with Evil and Good Smiths, we should have their Red Bull and Starbucks checked:D

The Soviet states used to do exactly that. Their breaststrokers would place in the top 5 of one Olympics, have a baby, and come back with a Gold medal!!!!!!!

Wayne, Are you serious?

Originally posted by Allen Stark I'm 57 and had my serum testosterone checked at my last Physical.It was normal, but if it wasn't would I be cheating to get a supplement? No! It wouldn't be cheating. In masters swimming the only one you can cheat is yourself. "Yeah, I have the opportunity to feel more energetic and raise my testosterone levels, but I am concerned about being fair to my fellow masters swimmers." Sorry, I don't want that on my conscience!

Too hell with the supplements. I propose we try to equal the playing field a bit in masters swimming. Performance is all about stresses in life. For every factor below you need to adjust your final performance accordingly. 1. For every kid you have subtract 1 tenth per 50 2. Demanding spouse...... subtract 1 tenth per 50 3. House payment substract 1 tenth per 50 4. Car payment substract half a tenth per 50 5. Unemployed.... subtract half a tenth per 50 6. If you coach or work near a pool add 2 tenths per 50. 7. If your just coming back to swimming from a lay off of more than 2 years subtract 2 tenths per 50. 8. Job sucks....... substract 1 tenth per 50 9. Just old and depressed..... subtract 1 tenth per 50 ....... :-) 10. Hung over.... subtract 2 tenths per 50. John Smith

Originally posted by breastroker The Soviet states used to do exactly that. Their breaststrokers would place in the top 5 of one Olympics, have a baby, and come back with a Gold medal!!!!!!! A college teammate from Germany told me that their National Women's Team used to do such a thing. They would get pregnant (by their coaches, of course!) and then abort back in the..80's?. :eek: Terrible, but needless to say, the coaches were taken care of.

Hooo Boy, Kinda makes what we were talking about trivial to the nth degree. I am not easily shocked, but that may have just done it for me.

That is worse than rectal air inflation.

Allen, As you know, the "normal" values for testosterone range from 250ng/dl to 1000ng/dl. I think the better question is-Would you be cheating if your testosterone level was 250 to 500 and you supplemented it to get it up around 1000? I would think that a level that is still in the normal range, but 2-4 times higher than your baseline, would cause some noticeable changes in your body. On the female side of things, women have been manipulating female hormones for contraception since the 60's. Last time I checked, they are still using. Oral/topical/subq contraceptives are by and large female hormones. So, we really do have some long term data on them. Women are well aware of the risks of oral/topical/subq contraceptives, but still choose to use them on a massive, worldwide scale. Why? They improve their quality of life. The benefits outweigh the known risks. A woman delivers a baby a couple months prior to when she competes. You know the kind of surges in hormones levels pregnancy causes. She trains throughout her pregnancy, even up to the day or two before she delivers. Now, couple huge increases in circulating hormones with an additional weight gain of 25-35 pounds while you are training. Then, give birth, take a break for two weeks or so, and get back to it. Lose the 35 lbs over the next two months and kick some serious butt shortly thereafter. (I am in no way suggesting this is cheating, by the way. Just more food for thought.) Think about how fast you would be if, for nine months, you ramped up your HGH and Testosterone to the highest end of normal and gradually added 35lbs to you body through drag or weight belts and then you drop the weight a month or two prior to a big swim.

I don't think it is the same as carrying a weight belt for one thing. I felt just as comfortable in the water no matter if I was 35 lbs overweight. But I am a male maybe a baby is like carrying a lead weight. RacerX be careful what you say here you will have the lady swimmers all wanting to get pregnant before they race next year.