I thought about this and it occurred to me that I assume few are using steroids just because I don't perceive steroids as prevalent in swimming generally. I mean, have steroids ever been an issue in our sport at the club or college level?
The East German women demonstrated they can help, there have been others like Michelle Smith over the years and there are certainly rumors of use by China. I'm sure there have been men in elite swimming who have been busted, but none come to mind. I do think (no data to back me up) that our sport is generally cleaner than a lot of others, but not naive enough to believe that we don't have some elites out there now who are using and masking.
For Masters, though, unless you've got some ancillary health reason where the PED provides a real health benefit, I honestly don't see the point. The risk-reward balance seems way tilted on the risk side. I mean, really, what's the upside?
I thought about this and it occurred to me that I assume few are using steroids just because I don't perceive steroids as prevalent in swimming generally. I mean, have steroids ever been an issue in our sport at the club or college level?
The East German women demonstrated they can help, there have been others like Michelle Smith over the years and there are certainly rumors of use by China. I'm sure there have been men in elite swimming who have been busted, but none come to mind. I do think (no data to back me up) that our sport is generally cleaner than a lot of others, but not naive enough to believe that we don't have some elites out there now who are using and masking.
For Masters, though, unless you've got some ancillary health reason where the PED provides a real health benefit, I honestly don't see the point. The risk-reward balance seems way tilted on the risk side. I mean, really, what's the upside?
