Testosterone and fairness

Well that’s a topic I’m familiar with- and here is why. In 2008 I had a bad motorcycle accident breaking both legs my back, my scapula, my acromium, my Ulna. I was in a wheelchair for three months could not walk and the best way to rehab was to get back in the water after many many years off. My doctor at the time in Santa Monica prescribed me human groth hormone due to the multiple bone breakages. My right leg was splintered below the kneecap. After having me on human growth hormone for one year, he showed me the difference between bone density and strength. I have been on human growth hormone six months out of the year for the last 15 years. I take it because it allows me to walk and do every day chores around the house without much pain. I am in constant pain, make no mistake. But, the human growth hormone allows me to at least function on a day-to-day basis. Since getting back into swimming this year, I can tell a major difference. I am faster now at 56, than I was at 40! The human growth hormone helps me tremendously. It is not a steroid, but it definitely has strength gaining and performance enhancing properties. I love the way. It makes me feel. I love that. I can leaf blow the driveway in the yard without being in pain and having to stop five minutes in. HGH is not illegal nor do I do anything illegal with it. The question arises, what to do with the records that have been broken while on human growth hormone or steroids? That’s an answer above my pay grade. 

PS- I took ‘Testosterone therapy’ in Atlanta Georgia through a licensed clinic in Buckhead. Good people, lots of knowledge. I found it to be cumbersome & heavy. It didn’t help my performance in anything. It added water weight to the tune of 20% total weight. I don’t see how anyone can gain an advantage -

here was my routine leading up to Nats- I tore both shoulders out on first race (50 Breast)

Supplements taken daily

BCAA- 30 minutes before FIRST workout

Omega 3

Vitamin D3 2000-4000 iu’s & K2 in liquid form

AG1-

Curcumin & Tumeric liquid pill

Fruits & Veggies

Avmacol-2 a day ( sulphuraphane)

Magnesium (dna repair)

Gladiator Protein shake

Barebell Protein bars

RX Bars

HYDROGENATED WATER WITH CREATINE!!!!! Huge difference

Actual Food-

STEAK (usually filet)

Fish

Bison

Wagyu beef

FRUITS

VEGETABLES

6-8 daily Eggs

Shamrock Protein shakes almost daily (no added sugars and high protein)

Attempt to consume 1.5 times protein of my 203lb body weight!!

300 grams

Hydrogenated water

Alkaline water

No sugars, No processed foods

No alcohol or drugs

48 hour fast 1 time every 60 days

24 hour fast 1 time every 60 days

16-18 hour fast 95% of the time.

Every couple of months I eat dessert- all in 24 hours….

               DIET IS 90%!!!

YOGA- 2-3 times a week, 30-55 minutes each session. (Gaia app)

Core- stretch 1 hour first thing upon awakening

Swim/ lift / bands am workout

Bands- stretching - core  afternoon workout..

Swim 600-1100 yards a workout depending upon daily requirement-

(I couple speed training on days I’m not lifting weights)

Stretching and maintenance on days I lift heavy and ride 10 + miles (4-5 times a week)

Heavy lifting definition-

     3-4 days a week I do dryland exercises

Lat hangs- engage scapular muscles and HOLD

Lat pull downs- 2 versions

Fingertip and full grip

3 x 12 light weight

1- chest pullovers 50-70 lbs

2- triceps extensions 70 lbs

2 days a week LEGS

1- leg workout

     Glute machine- leg extension- hamstring- abduction /adduction

Very light weight 100-130lbs 3x 12

Always on the stealth board core workout multiple times a day

Resistance bands x 5-8 times all day

Streamline and shoulder work multiple times a day with bands

Sliders (pain in back when used with floor mat and mimicking skating)

Electric stem unit nightly before ice

Constant work on massage with Theragun

Ice every night if not multiple times a day

PRP & Peptide therapy

Stem cell therapy has had massive effect on body and recovery.

(NeoGenix out of Charlotte)

It goes more in depth from every bullet point-

Well that’s a topic I’m familiar with- and here is why. In 2008 I had a bad motorcycle accident breaking both legs my back, my scapula, my acromium, my Ulna. I was in a wheelchair for three months could not walk and the best way to rehab was to get back in the water after many many years off. My doctor at the time in Santa Monica prescribed me human groth hormone due to the multiple bone breakages. My right leg was splintered below the kneecap. After having me on human growth hormone for one year, he showed me the difference between bone density and strength. I have been on human growth hormone six months out of the year for the last 15 years. I take it because it allows me to walk and do every day chores around the house without much pain. I am in constant pain, make no mistake. But, the human growth hormone allows me to at least function on a day-to-day basis. Since getting back into swimming this year, I can tell a major difference. I am faster now at 56, than I was at 40! The human growth hormone helps me tremendously. It is not a steroid, but it definitely has strength gaining and performance enhancing properties. I love the way. It makes me feel. I love that. I can leaf blow the driveway in the yard without being in pain and having to stop five minutes in. HGH is not illegal nor do I do anything illegal with it. The question arises, what to do with the records that have been broken while on human growth hormone or steroids? That’s an answer above my pay grade. 

PS- I took ‘Testosterone therapy’ in Atlanta Georgia through a licensed clinic in Buckhead. Good people, lots of knowledge. I found it to be cumbersome & heavy. It didn’t help my performance in anything. It added water weight to the tune of 20% total weight. I don’t see how anyone can gain an advantage -

here was my routine leading up to Nats- I tore both shoulders out on first race (50 Breast)

Supplements taken daily

BCAA- 30 minutes before FIRST workout

Omega 3

Vitamin D3 2000-4000 iu’s & K2 in liquid form

AG1-

Curcumin & Tumeric liquid pill

Fruits & Veggies

Avmacol-2 a day ( sulphuraphane)

Magnesium (dna repair)

Gladiator Protein shake

Barebell Protein bars

RX Bars

HYDROGENATED WATER WITH CREATINE!!!!! Huge difference

Actual Food-

STEAK (usually filet)

Fish

Bison

Wagyu beef

FRUITS

VEGETABLES

6-8 daily Eggs

Shamrock Protein shakes almost daily (no added sugars and high protein)

Attempt to consume 1.5 times protein of my 203lb body weight!!

300 grams

Hydrogenated water

Alkaline water

No sugars, No processed foods

No alcohol or drugs

48 hour fast 1 time every 60 days

24 hour fast 1 time every 60 days

16-18 hour fast 95% of the time.

Every couple of months I eat dessert- all in 24 hours….

               DIET IS 90%!!!

YOGA- 2-3 times a week, 30-55 minutes each session. (Gaia app)

Core- stretch 1 hour first thing upon awakening

Swim/ lift / bands am workout

Bands- stretching - core  afternoon workout..

Swim 600-1100 yards a workout depending upon daily requirement-

(I couple speed training on days I’m not lifting weights)

Stretching and maintenance on days I lift heavy and ride 10 + miles (4-5 times a week)

Heavy lifting definition-

     3-4 days a week I do dryland exercises

Lat hangs- engage scapular muscles and HOLD

Lat pull downs- 2 versions

Fingertip and full grip

3 x 12 light weight

1- chest pullovers 50-70 lbs

2- triceps extensions 70 lbs

2 days a week LEGS

1- leg workout

     Glute machine- leg extension- hamstring- abduction /adduction

Very light weight 100-130lbs 3x 12

Always on the stealth board core workout multiple times a day

Resistance bands x 5-8 times all day

Streamline and shoulder work multiple times a day with bands

Sliders (pain in back when used with floor mat and mimicking skating)

Electric stem unit nightly before ice

Constant work on massage with Theragun

Ice every night if not multiple times a day

PRP & Peptide therapy

Stem cell therapy has had massive effect on body and recovery.

(NeoGenix out of Charlotte)

It goes more in depth from every bullet point-

Impressive regimen.  If I could only be that disciplined.  I share concerns about the use of testosterone in masters swimming.  I know a couple doctors who’re putting down VERY fast swims; some male, some female.   Many more women in their 60s and 70s are clearly using something as their (up to) 10 second drops in shorter 200 yard races would indicate.  I would second guess myself expect that some of these swimmers had national and world records prior to these massive time drops.  60+ year old women are looking younger all the time and are swimming faster now than they were in their 30s and 40s. Some of these women have backs more muscular than Olympic rowers. Two of my female swimmer friends admit to using testosterone as hormone replacement “therapy.”  I know they feel better, look better and are aging slower using testosterone, but ultimately its use is new.  Seems to be a cultural phenomenon while many others  around the world just age naturally,  Makes me sad and frustrated  that some master swimmers glorify these dirty swims. 

Not sure that use is new. I swam DIII in mid 80’s. Steroids were starting to be used and ESP among power sports like football, certain track and field events. As a Journalist, I wrote an article that got fair good coverage and the ADs at some schools were not happy about it. I opened the story with an excerpt from “Death in the Locker Room”. Suggest anyone doubting T and PED use not occurring to read that book and see to what extent - even death - some will take to win.

It’s new to the point of technology advancing exponentially in the last 3 years- 

example- the HGH I bought 3 years ago- is now 1/2 as strong. I get tested constantly- I do not tread lightly. I realize I may be losing years later in life- but it’s WORTH the quality of life now! Without it now- everyday is a struggle with back pain. 
a point I wanted to make earlier, but forgot is this…

  there isn’t just ‘swimming’ anymore. So many factors plug into our performance! I do attribute being faster now, with training methods & all other physical activity combined. 
swimming is so much more now- I really wish I’d been able to train this way from a young age. 
 If it isn’t legal, would you consider it before dismissing? Quality of life can be improved, along with many other aspects of life!

   Cheers on your journey! 

Your situation does show the situation is complicated. I agree that there are true conditions that require treatments such as HGH. Having to use it should not preclude competing, but the need could be documented. I am more referring to people who rationalize what amounts to cheating.

Here is the problem I have with the idea of "you are only racing yourself" I am at the age that Jim Thornton referred to as "the quadratic part of the curve.".I slowed slowly and in a basically linear way until 65. Now It is unusual to have a time faster than one from the previous year, but if I am staying about the same relative to my competition then I have something to measure against.

Not exactly on topic, but in 2008-9 when the shiny suits were legal I knew my times were artificially faster, but I felt younger.