While I think most, if not all, of our recordbreakers are legit, I would not be surprised if a chunk of our swimmers were tested and found to have illegitimate substances in their bodies. Now, I am willing to bet that an overwhelming chunk of these cases would be for legit reason, OTC or prescription drug, lemon poppyseed muffin, etc. That being said, I would not put it past others in our ranks to be knowingly getting an illegitimate edge.
If there is doping in Masters Swimming, I doubt it would be just the "elite" or WR breakers who were culprits. I'm amazed at how serious ALL levels of master swimmers take themselves and their sport. If you just tested the Top 10 as AZ Tim suggested, I don't think it would be worth the time or money.
I bet the top 10 would be a good place to find someone. People have pointed out in this discussion, such as Mrs. Smith's statement here, that there are plenty of people do take masters swimming very seriously. There are people who are willing to "take it to the next level" at any cost, and they're not all recordbreakers... your run-of-the mill swimmers who want that Top 10 ranking, or National Champion patch, or whatever else is motivating them.
Some examples - you've been stuck at a time plateau for several years; finish 11th for the top 10 in your signature events for several years running; finish behind the same guy/gal too many times? Why not start ingesting some *junk* and seeing what happens?
In Masters, I would much prefer to allow anyone to swim. If they are on steroids and they beat me, good for them.
Yes, it is great to see so many people coming out to meets or just testing the waters. But when you care about your swims and get beaten by someone you know is cheating, no matter how cool you are normally, it always makes you feel like $h!+. I wonder if you'll be singing this same tune when you get bumped out of the top 10 by someone known to be juicing... Put yourself in Tara Kirk's shoes.
Again I think the logistics and the numerous legitimate exclusions make testing unlikely.I also hate cheating.But there is also another point,it is Masters Swimming and to me that means swimming for life.There is only one Masters swimmer I was REALLY suspicious of and he has sort of fallen off the map in the last few years.It would be great to swim a WR now,but certainly not if it meant not getting to 80(or 100 or 120)
Whatever your motivation for swimming is, it is uniquely you and would be sullied by the use of PED's to garner acclaim from others.
If however a Masters Record-breaker were to be signed up for commercials by some geriatric product(s) (It depends of course) for huge sums of money .......... That wud b a haul difrnt stohree.......
Now if my sponsor was a beer company and I had a high level alcohol reading could or should I be DQ'd and barred from swimming for life.
Or just sent to the stand up bar.
Now if my sponsor was a beer company and I had a high level alcohol reading could or should I be DQ'd and barred from swimming for life.
Or just sent to the stand up bar.
If you showed high alcohol content (over the legal limit) and you established a new record, you should be commended and get double-medalled.
As for the type of bar, you would qualify for the swim up (and back) bar.
Paul- I loathe, abhor and detest cheaters, but I think if you really start some semi-serious testing in masters, then the truly determined and/or wealthy cheaters will still stay ahead of the testing as you have so ably pointed out in the 'Dara' thread.
...Just in case you missed it in another thread...
The World Anti-Doping Code
THE 2008 PROHIBITED LIST
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
www.wada-ama.org/.../2008_List_En.pdf
Includes these sub-categories:
* SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES (IN- AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION)
* SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED IN-COMPETITION
* SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED IN PARTICULAR SPORTS
