Drug Testing in Masters Swimming

The actual benefit of hGH in athletes remains controversial. Known side effects include water retention and insulin resistance. Doubtful you'd see classic features of acromegaly develop. Keep in mind there are no large scale studies, for obvious reasons. So you don't see acromegaly, but you do see tightened faces?! John: Maybe you should go ahead and try HGH instead of caffeine. LOL. Get rid of those squirrel arms. Supposed to be good for sprinters? I think we should give a prize for anyone actually admitting to HGH use here. Yeah, that'll happen. I'm sure everyone has their own suspicions or knowledge. Do people really think WR holders would skip nationals to focus on zones? That's be odd after awhile and create even more suspicion. And, like other cheating athletes, can't they just get off the stuff in time to not test positive? Or does HGH stay in your system a long time?

In all reality, it would not be economically feasible to test all USMS members and such a program would surely limit our organization's growth. I would be sorely dissapointed if any of our elite athletes are taking drugs to improve performance. Even with jobs, kids, etc, it does require a dedication to the sport to be in the Top 10 and I would like to think those few did it honestly. Nationals always seems to bring out the best so maybe a test program there where you have economies of scale coupled with the best in USMS.

I don't think I would be surprised to find some Masters "cheating". And it may very well be the ones profiting from their swimming success... However, I know that most of the people ranking Top 10 World Times, World Records, etc. have an impressive swimming history. Many swam in USS Nationals as kids, made their Olympic Trials cuts, were American Record holders, won NCAA's, etc. I think many of these people would voluntarily test if they were asked, as long as they didn't have to pay for it! An amazing example of speed that I can think of is Clay Britt. There are many expletives I can think of to describe his swimming! Many Masters may not know he won 3 NCAA's in a row, until his senior year, when some upstart named Rick Carey came along! Clay is just a powerful, strong sprinter. He has immense talent. I believe he had at least one American Record- I'll check with my hubby on that one. For someone to imply that someone like Clay was cheating, would show their lack of knowledge of history. How many other Master's swimmers do you know with similar backgrounds to Clay's? Probably more than you think. I can think of at least 10 off the top of my head. Let's not confuse cheating with talent and hard work. Clay was on the 1980 Olympic team too. But he's been a real slacker lately. No meets since his WR spree in Dec. at U Md. I barely have time to get to practice, much less cheat. I'm just trying not to die of allergies and kid germs and sleep deprivation. But, Kirk, would you really cheat? I mean, you're pretty darn fast already. And is cheating only prevelant among national or world record holders? Or also among those aspiring to be such? I'm sure there are cheaters. I know 12 years olds taking HGH. They can all get on with their own bad selves. I'll continue to worry about getting through traffic to get to the pool or to the weight room so I don't have to run all the time. If they want to drug test me, they can show up at my house or get me at a meet. I don't feel like footing the bill or adding an extra errand to my day to show up to be drug tested. I'm not a cockroach either, but there are other things in my life besides swimming.

Ok, I admit it... I....moonlight as a cockroach! There I've said it, I feel better. I was actually in "Damnation Alley". Did 'ya all see the cockroach scene in the casino? That wasn't actually me. Those were stunt doubles! And no cockroaches were hurt in the making of that movie. Phew. I'll sleep better tonight. Beth, maybe if you too, admit that you're really a cockroach in sprinter's clothing, the insomnia will stop. :p Caped- I did cover myself and say "most". :) Bill- I agree :dedhorse:

I think the "tightened faces" reference was alluding to cosmetic surgery. Let's make drug testing voluntary, get Dove to sponsor it, and award a tee shirt that says you're "clean" if you pass. Maybe it wasn't "tightened faces". Maybe it was a mispelling and should have read "tightened ***"??? :eek:

I think the "tightened faces" reference was alluding to cosmetic surgery. Let's make drug testing voluntary, get Dove to sponsor it, and award a tee shirt that says you're "clean" if you pass. I must be blurry from all the drugs I'm taking. I can't read anymore. And I'm too worried about being busted for skipping nationals to focus on zones. There seem to be a lot of people skipping nationals this year. I like the t-shirt idea. I want one since I'm not getting the "Tour de la Pool" shirt. If I can't swim the 200 fly or 1650, at least I can be "clean." SS: Chlorine is no good for your skin. Jim: How many of those red bulls do you suck down per day at a meet and how long does that red bull buzz last? Hoosier: I like that avatar! Not as much as the Red Sox, but not bad.

I for one, was not a "star" as a kid. And I don't consider myself a Masters star either. I did make one Masters World ranking once, that I know of, in all things the 1500m. And I didn't know it until years later! I've never searched the FINA data base for that stuff. My hubby is pretty fast. He tried for Trials Cuts in 1988 and missed it. I don't know if he's had any World rankings in Masters... he didn't even learn how to swim until he was 15! The swimming world is an interesting place. Wouldn't it be cool if there was a profile page, with a picture, for every member in USMS? You could say where you went to college, how long you've been swimming, swimming achievements, etc. I bet it would open a lot of eyes. Of course it would have to be password protected :) Jim Matysek, can you get on that for us? :p

I know 12 years olds taking HGH. This is truly sad. Who would permit their kid to do such a thing? Unless for Medical reasons. Ironic too in how everyone felt aghast at the article about the 12 year old chinese girl running 100 miles a week being pushed by her parents in search of Olympic success.

It is sad. She's small, but still perfectly normal. She's very athletic and they want her to be taller and super-competitive on her nationally ranked soccer team and whatnot. They're very focused on sports. Her mother is a doctor, and should know better. But if 12 year olds are doing this, you can be assured that masters swimmers are too. That's BS. Height is not a requirement for soccer (ugh) you put the tall kids at the back or up front (and that is not 100% of the time either) the rest just need to be skillful. Low centre of gravity and fast turning ability can outwiegh jumping for a ball. Work on her vertical jump not making her taller. Now if they feel she needs to be taller based soley on medical reasons that's a different argument. I don't need performance enhancing drugs...I'd just not like to be ill at a meet. :rofl:

I think we can all agree that medically taking HGH for prepubescent smaller/shorter kids is a bit different than taking HGH in college or after. Gull..... you're our resident medical expert here..... Question..... what are the symptoms of taking HGH after puberty?..... are they similar to acromegaly? John Smith