Originally Posted by
oldbobcat
Yeah, but the doping done before the 1990s was small-time compared to contemporary blood-boosting. Also, the substances used were intended strictly for enhancing the performance at hand. After doping, the athlete's recovery usually suffered. Before WW2 it was about caffeine, cocaine, and other recreational stimulants. War research brought us amphetamines and barbituates, which became popular in the 50s and 60. The side effects of these drugs was often debilitating, and it was still possible for clean riders to win on ability alone.
The 70s introduced steroids and blood transfusions, the 90s EPO, and the 00s medically managed programs that combined steroids, EPO, and transfusions. These programs met two objectives, enhancing performance and recovery.
Tours de France have also been shortened considerably since the 1970s. Also the rules on accepting aid have been slackened immensely This was done to benefit the riders' health and encourage more aggressive riding.
1/22/13
Michele Ferrari:
TESTOSTERONE and ANABOLIC STEROIDS have been available from the 50's and 60's, and it is very likely that athletes have made wide use of those, but tests for the probable intake of exogenous testosterone were approved only in 1986, while specific tests for the numerous anabolic drugs were developed as new molecules were coming on the market. I asked a Grand Champion of the 70's which drugs were used in his time. "Amphetamines, cortisone" he said. "Decadurabolin, durabolin, sustanon?" I added. "Ah yes, those too..." (he had not even considered them as doping...)...
The first scientific publication on the effects of blood TRANSFUSIONS over aerobic performance dates back some 67 years ago! (Science 1945, 102:589-591). It's very likely that endurance athletes have used it since the 60's, though only a decade later we had contextual certainty.