From Swimnews

I think one of the reasons that masters doesn't test for drugs is that some swimmers (older males) are on hormone replacement therapy for medical reasons. Granted, Androgrel massaged into the shoulder shouldn't elevate your testosterone levels the way doping with heavy duty anabolic steroids do, but my understanding is that some substances banned for Olympic competition can become medical necessities (well, maybe not necessities exactly, but enhancements) with advancing age. Maybe because there is virtually no financial incentive, and not a whole lot of glory incentive either, I find it hard to imagine there is rampant doping going on in our ranks. If there is, I say: people this driven to win are suffering enough with OCD. They are already getting punished by their own brains. Suits, on the other hand, are a different matter. A decade or two ago, the tennis industry introduced these oversized tennis balls that were easier to see, a bit slower on the courts, and easier to hit. The idea was that it might behoove the game for older players. The concept, as far as I can see, never caught on. The reason: It's NOT tennis anymore! It's a big slow ball batting sport with racquets. I loved the B70, but I want masters swimming to remain swimming. I don't want it to become a big body boating for old people sealed into neoprene kayaks sport. That, to me, is NOT swimming anymore!

I think one of the reasons that masters doesn't test for drugs is that some swimmers (older males) are on hormone replacement therapy for medical reasons. Granted, Androgrel massaged into the shoulder shouldn't elevate your testosterone levels the way doping with heavy duty anabolic steroids do, but my understanding is that some substances banned for Olympic competition can become medical necessities (well, maybe not necessities exactly, but enhancements) with advancing age. Maybe because there is virtually no financial incentive, and not a whole lot of glory incentive either, I find it hard to imagine there is rampant doping going on in our ranks. If there is, I say: people this driven to win are suffering enough with OCD. They are already getting punished by their own brains. Suits, on the other hand, are a different matter. A decade or two ago, the tennis industry introduced these oversized tennis balls that were easier to see, a bit slower on the courts, and easier to hit. The idea was that it might behoove the game for older players. The concept, as far as I can see, never caught on. The reason: It's NOT tennis anymore! It's a big slow ball batting sport with racquets. I loved the B70, but I want masters swimming to remain swimming. I don't want it to become a big body boating for old people sealed into neoprene kayaks sport. That, to me, is NOT swimming anymore!