"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Doping in the amateur peloton

How much of this goes on? There MUST be some of this.

Discuss.

I do caffeine and CHO. :)

Wouldn't surprise me one bit. I remember talking to a colleague of mine who knows a lot of the local tri guys, and he mentioned that it's apparently rampant at the upper amateur echelons as well.

It happens in MT, so I assume it happens everywhere.

Anyone who beats me MUST be doping. Therefore, there's a helluva lot of doping going on.

It happens in MT, so I assume it happens everywhere.

But will you name NAMES Cypress?

Don't pull an Ivan on us dude.

Come clean. Confess.
http://www.nysica.com/images/confess.gif

No names. I have been offered "help" by several people.

It's strange though. For guys with pro aspirations I guess it could be cost-effective, but otherwise that *****'s just expensive. It's not like you can earn a living winning P/1/2 races anyway...

It's strange though. For guys with pro aspirations I guess it could be cost-effective, but otherwise that *****'s just expensive. It's not like you can earn a living winning P/1/2 races anyway...


Exactly.

It's strange though. For guys with pro aspirations I guess it could be cost-effective, but otherwise that *****'s just expensive. It's not like you can earn a living winning P/1/2 races anyway...

i don't know if the cost is the problem. i look around at races sometimes and see just crazy expensive equipment. power meters, zipp wheels, carbon fiber frames, etc. and that's in cat 5!

The last time this came up someone posted a link to a message board on the website of a supplement vendor. They sold the usual mix of GNC type bodybuilding supplements. The message board, however, had sections where people shared how and where to get steroids, HgH, and EPO, among other drugs. They even talked about proper dosing and what kinds of benefits they received. A couple of these guys were amateur bike racers and they were quite open about how they benefited. I was astonished.

On the other hand, a local racer here who is a registered nurse, has told me that when he lived in Philadelphia the local racers would ask him all the time to lift EPO for them. Apparently it's easy to get if you work at a hospital, or it was then.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising. The male ego wants to win and some people will do whatever it takes.

I was quoted $200/week and that was the "friend discount".

Too rich for my blood. (literally)

The last time this came up someone posted a link to a message board on the website of a supplement vendor. They sold the usual mix of GNC type bodybuilding supplements. The message board, however, had sections where people shared how and where to get steroids, HgH, and EPO, among other drugs. They even talked about proper dosing and what kinds of benefits they received. A couple of these guys were amateur bike racers and they were quite open about how they benefited. I was astonished.

On the other hand, a local racer here who is a registered nurse, has told me that when he lived in Philadelphia the local racers would ask him all the time to lift EPO for them. Apparently it's easy to get if you work at a hospital, or it was then.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising. The male ego wants to win and some people will do whatever it takes.


Dont hold back... post the link

The last time this came up someone posted a link to a message board on the website of a supplement vendor. They sold the usual mix of GNC type bodybuilding supplements. The message board, however, had sections where people shared how and where to get steroids, HgH, and EPO, among other drugs. They even talked about proper dosing and what kinds of benefits they received. A couple of these guys were amateur bike racers and they were quite open about how they benefited. I was astonished.

On the other hand, a local racer here who is a registered nurse, has told me that when he lived in Philadelphia the local racers would ask him all the time to lift EPO for them. Apparently it's easy to get if you work at a hospital, or it was then.

I guess it shouldn't be surprising. The male ego wants to win and some people will do whatever it takes.

Sure. None of the big doping meds are controlled substances. EPO especially is pretty easy to come by.

Most of us value our professional licensure enough to not play that game, though.

I jokingly ask my girlfriend to perscribe me HgH and EPO. Just because I ask doesn't mean I'd take it.

...

Unless she actually came through. ;)

We may not all be doping, but we are all dopey.

Dont hold back... post the link

I didn't save the link.

Sure. None of the big doping meds are controlled substances. EPO especially is pretty easy to come by.

Most of us value our professional licensure enough to not play that game, though.

Smart man, but we already knew that. I believe the guy I mentioned was also smart enough to not get involved in that game. That's when your hobby becomes a dangerous obsession.

Dont hold back... post the link
Try this one: www.elitefitness.com Careful there are some sections there that are not work safe. I found that site because I was on a search for weight loss workout tips...I quickly found that there was a lot of steroid use, discussion, sales etc going on there.

i used to pop day-time cold/flu pills for hilly races. doubt they really helped, but they did contain banned substances.

when do i get my suspension?

As race director and an official I have always wondered about this. Especially true in light of all the current scandals in the Pro Peloton. Has anyone ever seen a study on this? Surely some pharmacology PhD candidate has done some research somewhere. This article makes it sound easy http://www.iaaf.org/antidoping/news/Kind=2/newsId=23876.html , but I wonder how many racers actually do it. I googled around a bit and could find no definitive information.

Most of the banned substances aren't all that rare as said before. HGH is prescribed all the time by those wack job "life coaches" that want to help middle aged men recapture their youthfull energy.

Try this one: www.elitefitness.com Careful there are some sections there that are not work safe. I found that site because I was on a search for weight loss workout tips...I quickly found that there was a lot of steroid use, discussion, sales etc going on there.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Most of the banned substances aren't all that rare as said before. HGH is prescribed all the time by those wack job "life coaches" that want to help middle aged men recapture their youthfull energy.

have you ever seen that show '30 days', where they have someone do something for 30 days to see the results?

one episode was about a midlifer who underwent a "anti-aging" program. it included HGH and some other stuff. he couldn't even finish the program because it killed off almost all his sperm. there was also something drastically wrong with his kidney. before he started he was tested and deemed healthy. this was all under a doctors supervision as well. scary.

Try this one: www.elitefitness.com Careful there are some sections there that are not work safe. I found that site because I was on a search for weight loss workout tips...I quickly found that there was a lot of steroid use, discussion, sales etc going on there.

proof that body builders are deranged freaks.

proof that body builders are deranged freaks.
Um...I haven't been to that site in quite a while (2-3 years) has it gotten worse? I will have to check it out when I get home.

Try this one: www.elitefitness.com Careful there are some sections there that are not work safe. I found that site because I was on a search for weight loss workout tips...I quickly found that there was a lot of steroid use, discussion, sales etc going on there.

Jeezus there are some f'd up people on that site, I only poked around for a few minutes but my god. People openly talking about using roids then saying how healthy of a lifestyle they live.

I would never dope, this is amateur bike racing for christ sake. People cheat to win a cat 3 or 4 bike race and would feel good about that?

Sort of a hijack, but related question - at what point does "supplementation" become "doping"? Although some things are obvious (testosterone, epo, hgh), there seems to be a gray area to me. For instance, if I chomp down some sportlegs or e-caps is that doping? How 'bout daily supplements like optygen or EP-No?

Also, what about folks (myself included) who have allergies and asthma and use a daily inhaler + allergy/cold medicine? Is that doping?

Not doping but we had several people in our RR last year who apparently did not ride the entire course. So this year we will record all of the numbers of people who pass each turnaround point. Also a guy two years ago in an ACA race used his number from the last crit, did not register and jumped in after a portion of the race was already done. He did not finish because he crashed and thought no one was the wiser. Then he tried to file an insurance claim with ACA and was taken to task for it (and the claim of course was denied).

Sort of a hijack, but related question - at what point does "supplementation" become "doping"? Although some things are obvious (testosterone, epo, hgh), there seems to be a gray area to me. For instance, if I chomp down some sportlegs or e-caps is that doping? How 'bout daily supplements like optygen or EP-No?

Also, what about folks (myself included) who have allergies and asthma and use a daily inhaler + allergy/cold medicine? Is that doping?

If it's not on the WADA list, it's not doping.

Most OTC cold medications are allowed by WADA, unless it contains ephedrine or something in their list. Funny, though, psuedoephedrine is on the "monitoring" list, but not prohibited.

Inhaler meds sometimes contain steroids--these are banned, unless you acquire a medical exemption.

Sort of a hijack, but related question - at what point does "supplementation" become "doping"? Although some things are obvious (testosterone, epo, hgh), there seems to be a gray area to me. For instance, if I chomp down some sportlegs or e-caps is that doping? How 'bout daily supplements like optygen or EP-No?

Also, what about folks (myself included) who have allergies and asthma and use a daily inhaler + allergy/cold medicine? Is that doping?

I hit the optygen and sportlegs too, but I don't consider that doping.

As far as inhalers, I think the UCI does consider them PEDs but you can get a therapeutic use exemption for them.

I think hormones of any kind are generally considered over the line. This would include EPO, HGH, steroids, etc. Beyond that I think it's an issue of potency. Amphetamines, for instance, are illegal, but caffeine isn't. I guess if I were to make a blanket distinction, I would say that if you need a prescription for it (or need to search the dark, seedy corners of the internet for it) it's probably illegal.

If you're interested, here's the 2007 WADA list:

http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2007_List_En.pdf

Inhaler meds sometimes contain steroids--these are banned, unless you acquire a medical exemption.

Which apparently MANY Pro tour racers have.

but only because many pro tour racers have asthma ;)

but only because many pro tour racers have asthma ;)

Inhaled steroids really don't do anything but treat allergies and asthma. That's actually why they came into being--taking corticosteroids systemically, i.e. in pill form or otherwise, is horribly bad for you in the long run, so inhaled steroids keep the drug localized to the lungs and airways.

That's one that's legit in my eyes...

Amphetamines, for instance, are illegal, but caffeine isn't.
Caffiene is illegal in high doses. One would have to drink roughly 10 cups of coffee in 30 minutes to exceed the legal limit.

Or you could take caffiene suppositories like Steve Hegg and get busted that way.

Caffiene is illegal in high doses. One would have to drink roughly 10 cups of coffee in 30 minutes to exceed the legal limit.

Or you could take caffiene suppositories like Steve Hegg and get busted that way.

From the WADA list:



The following substances included in the 2007 Monitoring Program (bupropion,
caffeine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradol, pseudoephedrine,
synephrine) are not considered as Prohibited Substances.

Inhaled steroids really don't do anything but treat allergies and asthma. That's actually why they came into being--taking corticosteroids systemically, i.e. in pill form or otherwise, is horribly bad for you in the long run, so inhaled steroids keep the drug localized to the lungs and airways.

That's one that's legit in my eyes...
Um huh? It helps you get more air in a sport that is totaly cardio vascular and the more oxygen you can get in the better. And you don't think nthat they are doing it for a reason?

The International Olympic Committee(thread title: amateurs) considers caffeine illegal in high doses. I don't have time to look it up, but I will later. Cheers.

The International Olympic Committee considers caffeine illegal in high doses. I don't have time to look it up, but I will later. Cheers.

The IOC defers to WADA, now.

I believe the IOC created WADA, and there may be a different standard for pros and amateurs. The thread is about amateurs.

Anybody ever been tested? The license application yaks about consenting to blood and urine testing, but I doubt it’s ever done. The day someone asks me for a cup of urine is the day I know I have some serious legs. LOL

I believe the IOC created WADA, and there may be a different standard for pros and amateurs. The thread is about amateurs.

The IOC's focus has changed to health of the athlete.

From:

http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/medical/full_story_uk.asp?id=2064



The Role of the IOC Medical Commission
With the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the IOC Medical Commission’s role has moved from primarily handling anti-doping activities in the world of sport to taking an active role in the promotion of the health of athletes. To this end, a series of consensus meetings have been scheduled covering the following issues:
· Sex Reassignment in Sport 2003
· Nutrition in Sport 2003
· Sudden Cardiovascular Death in Sport 2004
· Female Athlete Triad 2005
· Training the Elite Child Athlete 2005
· Sexual Harassment & Abuse in Sport 2006

Doping is a lot cheaper than a new set of Zipp wheels...and sadly, more effective. Then again I have several friends who were routinely top 5 at track nats (and winners) that wouldn't know a drug if it cracked them in the forehead. If you have to dope just to reach Cat1 you should take up chess now. I believe all of our US heroes (Armstrong, Hincapie, Z, Hamilton, etc) were 100% clean at least til they got to Europe.

C'mon people. It's about the "now - the quick - the easy!"

Hard work and waiting for results is so 1950s.

Well, I guess I've been living in the past, or maybe in the future...Caffeine is currently on the monitoring list according to this( http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Bid-to-reinstate-caffeine-ban/2005/05/18/1116361602936.html ) , and may become restricted in the future.

But Dr. Pete was right; it is not illegal since 2004.

Um huh? It helps you get more air in a sport that is totaly cardio vascular and the more oxygen you can get in the better. And you don't think nthat they are doing it for a reason?

Allergies and asthma are actually quite prevalent, even if very mild. I have mild allergies too, but it's a sufficiently small nuisance right now that I don't take meds. If my paycheck depended on my race results, I'd be on the inhalers too.

I wish I could remember the study, but there's no benefit for inhaled beta-agonists (like albuterol) or inhaled steroids (flovent, etc.) in a normal, healthy person with no allergies or asthma.

I think caffeine was taken off the list because the amount needed to improve performance was so low it almost couldn't be avoided.

Is there doping in amateur cycling? I've heard rumors of steroids in the local recreation softball league. So I'd guess it's reached amateur cycling, too.

Is there doping in amateur cycling? I've heard rumors of steroids in the local recreation softball league. So I'd guess it's reached amateur cycling, too.

not a surprise considering all of the guys with 'floaters', and no necks, who play softball.