When a swimmer is injured and a doctor provides a round or so of steroids (cortisone, etc.), injections to provide pain relief and reduce inflammation, is this considered doping within the USMS? This question came up in an email a day or so ago from a top competitor who has been told it is considered doping. I'll fess up first, I am on a round of three injections prior to considering a shoulder surgery, with surgery being my last and desperate resort. Or is a small round of steriods for medical purposes only so slight that steroids would not show up in routine blood tests.
Is this legal within USMS guidelines?
Donna
Former Member
I use a corticosteroid inhaler for asthma, and on the instruction sheet there is a warning that it can give a false positive for the presence of anabolic steroids in urine tests. So, if they did test masters athletes, a note from the doctor explaining the shots and when they were done would be necessary.
These tests are expensive, so I don't think they'd ever bother.
Thanks for all the great responses. I knew that as a normal routine USMS does not test for doping, but with the increase in doping in other sports and at the elite level, I'd be surprised that they didn't entertain the idea. Maybe those of us who are average swimmers, me included, have nothing to worry about. But I brought this up because the steroid I am on is above the cortisone level whatever that means. I'll have to get the exact name of it next Friday at 2nd injection time and do some research. But a friend of mine who is a top USMS competitor had heard from their coach that it is being looked at seriously.
And prior to my long swim next August and having to register with FINA, I want as much info on this as possible; especially the possibility of false-postives like was mentioned.
If anyone has any other information about this, or your experience with it, please write about it! I guess many of us laymen don't know the exact science as to what computes to doping and how these drugs are broken down within us even though I know there are differences.
Donna
As Anna Lea said, a fairly large proportion of masters athletes, if not the majority (not just swimmers, either), use prescription medication. Some of the medication might cause positive test results. It seems like it would defeat USMS's mission to discourage these athletes either from participating or from following their MD's instructions.
USMS doesn't do drug testing, so you have nothing to worry about.
Plus, I'd bet that the majority of Masters swimmers are taking some sort of drugs - blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis, etc.
Anna Lea
Like Skip said, Cortisone is in a whole different category of steroids than the muscle building type. Look at Cortisone as a high powered dose of Ibuprofen given locally in injectable form. We use this drug in many forms to help athletes, asthmatics, arthritics etc. Don't think anyone would consider this type of steroid cheating in the context you are using it. There are reports of some athletes using these drugs to speed recovery. Frequent mega doses for systemic responses. Very unhealthy in the long term. I think this could be considered cheating.
Regards
Spudfin
Hmmm .... Never thought of alcohol as performance enhancing.I think alcohol is banned in a few sports (Archery, Automobile, Modern Pentathlon, Motorcycling and Powerboating) for other than performance enhancing reasons. We already have enough drunken power boaters on our local lakes, and drunken archers, now that’s a sport.
Another interesting note: “beta-blockers are prohibited in-competition only, in the following sports…. Bridge.” Maybe it’s just me but sport, in competition and bridge don’t seem to go together. Follow-up note alcohol is not a banned substance in bridge, so grandma can still have her glass of whiskey while playing (I mean competing in) bridge.:wine:
What about bowling? Are these elite athletes still allowed/expected to smoke, drink beer, and eat hot dags and pizza while competing?:drink:
If it wasn't for the "aiming fluid" I'd be a lousy bowler. :groovy:
I think alcohol is banned in a few sports (Archery, Automobile, Modern Pentathlon, Motorcycling and Powerboating) for other than performance enhancing reasons. We already have enough drunken power boaters on our local lakes, and drunken archers, now that’s a sport.
Another interesting note: “beta-blockers are prohibited in-competition only, in the following sports…. Bridge.” Maybe it’s just me but sport, in competition and bridge don’t seem to go together. Follow-up note alcohol is not a banned substance in bridge, so grandma can still have her glass of whiskey while playing (I mean competing in) bridge.:wine:
What about bowling? Are these elite athletes still allowed/expected to smoke, drink beer, and eat hot dags and pizza while competing?:drink:
