DrPete 

--DHEA is a lousy antidepressant.

If he carried a diagnosis of depression, he should have seen a psychiatrist and actually been on some, oh, I don't know... ANTIDEPRESSANTS for it, with a therapeutic exemption if necessary. If anyone knows the rules he does.

Sorry, but if the guy knowingly takes a banned substance that's not even therapeutic for his problem, especially knowing what he knows about the consequences, he's an idiot. I'll happily keep that opinion.

dcmurf

His whole saga is just sad. I always rooted for Tyler as he is a fellow Bay Stater, married one of my students (divorced last year, I see from the ESPN timeline of his career), and just seems like an all-around nice guy. I hope he gets the help he needs.

bdcheung

Are you implying he took the Mitamins Advanced Formula for Depression specifically for the DHEA?

Or that he took the Mitamins Advanced Formula for Depression for his condition, knowing that DHEA was in it?

orcanova

I agree with you, just wanted to point out that he was on a prescribed anti-depressant, but was abusing it by taking twice the prescribed amount, then stopped taking it, which is a recipe for disaster. If one isn't doing the job his Dr. could have prescribed another one which might have been more effective for him. He should have gone back to his doctor for help. He sounds like a total basket case, and I think he's been cheating his whole career.

Pharmr

all that needs to be said about this.

DrPete 

He explicitly states in the interview that he took it knowing that it contained a banned substance. I don't think it gets much more explicit than that.

kwrides

I agree. I said a long time ago that the way I see it, there are 116 guys in the TdF. If you think for a second that #117 would not take drugs if it would make him better than #116, you are very naive as to the ways of professional sports.

MarkSLC

+1

Being somebody with the same affliction as Hamilton, I can tell you that depression does some pretty interesting things to one's rationality, especially if he goes cold turkey from his meds (horrible idea as many anti-depressants come with serious withdrawal). I've lapsed a day or 2 on medication and it made me so far out of sorts that I could barely function. It sucks. Bad. But we have to play the hand we're dealt. I think in his mind (at least as far as I understand in the one article by ESPN) he was trying to treat his depression holistically, but being a pro athlete he should have known better. At the very least, he could have consulted with somebody on his team or a close friend with knowledge of professional cycling protocol.

Could be a cop out, but it sounds like life's dealing him some blows right now.

gsteinb

Not sure I see the value in trying to parse this incident out from his career. The reaction people are having are based on his past positive and repeated denials. I really doubt anyone would actually wish the guy ill, but he cheated deserving people and has once again brought disgrace to the sport. Let him get well, and hopefully he has banked some good will somewhere so he can find a career.

c0lnago

It is a PED for a reason...significant or not.

patentcad

While I fully suspect that there is some doping in amateur racing, how do you think you can tell Gary? Sudden unexplained dramatic improvements in performance by individual guys you've raced against in previous years perhaps?

bdcheung

Maybe it's my idealistic legal education.

I see mitigating circumstances in this particular incident, and feel it is unfair - in judging Tyler for this specific action - to hold his past transgressions as evidence of anything. Especially since it seems the consumption of the DHEA was incidental to his anti-depression meds.

patentcad

It's never really too early for torches and pitchforks on BF by the way.

MarkSLC

In the short time I've been on this site, I've noticed that the more neutral you are the more you are ignored.

bdcheung

that's pretty much par for real life.

what fun is it to have a conversation with someone who doesn't have a stance? it's like talking to a sponge.

cuda2k

Tyler wasn't taking prescription anti-depressants because of the side effects (article I read didn't say what they were) they had on him. And that he was taking something like double the normal amount of them and they were not helping. He was desperate after learning his mother had cancer, and took the risk of being discovered. He knew it was wrong, he knew he could and would likely be caught. I think he's handling this situation as best he can considering.

MarkSLC

Point well taken.

DrPete 

His past has nothing to do with it, ultimately. At the end of the day he knowingly consumed a banned substance that was a component of a vitamin he was taking, and this OTC vitamin formulation isn't even considered a treatment for depression. Again, he knows the rules, and if he didn't want to face the consequences then he should've done it the right way.

Where his past comes in is when you start to wonder if that story's even true.

bdcheung

We agree 100% on the facts.

Where I'm still undecided is on the validity of the story (as you alluded to), as well as the motive for the action.

coasting 

someone explain it to me. he actually tests positive for a banned substance and admits it. where is the controversy. you might understand why he might take the substance, but the rules are clear..they are banned.

gsteinb

Maybe from the positive tests and doping suspensions?

enjoi07

so....anyone can get this stuff



stay up hamilton.

ericm979

You'd think that Tyler of all people would be extra careful about what he took, but depressed people don't always think clearly.

He (and I am going out on a limb here) may also be conflicted about continuing riding and subconciously looking for a way out, sort of the same way when you are in a race and it really sucks so you start thinking that getting a flat wouldn't be so bad.

varian72

Too bad he's divorced too. His wife was cute.

coasting 

you are such a genius. you should be a detective. pcad can be the meter maid