Has anyone here taken performance enhancing drugs?
 

I don't want to advocate for drugs or doping in anyway but I would like to hear if anyone has taken them or been close enough to someone who has to have a good idea about what they actually do? Did you think it really gave you an advantage, etc.. I've never met anyone who says they have and I also don't know anyone who seems like they do. Anyone willing to fess up and give a good account?
Or at least pass on some anecdotal evidence?
I'm really just wondering how I annoyed I should really be when athletes get caught, how much of an advantage did they really get. I know a lot of people say anyone who dopes could be an amazing athlete and I highly doubt that, so how much is drugs/doping and how much is the athlete?

For my type of cycling, there's no need for performance enhancing drugs. Whether I finish a century in 6 hours or 8 hours or 10 hours doesn't make any difference to me.

But I'd hope that cyclists who compete in their little local (city/provincial/state) races wouldn't take their races so seriously to figure they need performance enhancing drugs. It's not like winning a little local race is going to put them on a team for the TDF.


That said, when I was in bodybuilding years ago, performance enhancing drugs were available and quietly suggested. Depending on the drug, they can actually help build muscle, or give extra energy so that a person can do two workouts a day. And no, I never used any.

i take glucosamine and calcium. are they banned yet?

http://www.wada-ama.org/Documents/Wo...st_2010_EN.pdf

I have dabbled in everything & I can say safely say there are supplements still within WADA regulation that Greg Lemond & his stance against doping simply ignores that produce better results than the likes of EPO & HGH etc.

Hes going on about steroids now. lol. Pasta produces better results.

These things enhance my performance:

I use B6 & B12 strategically timed with complex and simple carbohydrates. Caffeine tops the menu.

Recovery includes liquid protein and some simple carbs.

Significant rest is scheduled between intense training sessions.

excellent article here
http://outside.away.com/outside/body...ug_test_1.html

I have pituitary gland failure. All my hormone producing glands have failed. I take a number of medications that are considered doping agents. All prescribed by my endocrinologist. Still my levels are now at the lower end of normal after the pills and shots. Before a long ride or stressful event, I'll kick the dope up a notch just to hang in there.

Thanks for the replies, both links were very interesting.

The OP in that link; (TiMan), Is that Greg Lemond? & his jealous excuse rabble for Armstrong being far more superior???. Wouldn't suprise me.

When I was in the army a lot of the guys in more elite units took all sorts of stuff to help with mission performance and sleep/food deprivation. It does help, a lot, a whole lot. Keep in mind a day of combat is easily as physically demanding as an ironman triathlon. The effects on ones health from the drugs are pretty bad though. It is strange to see a 25 year old guy who looks 45 in the face, has the body of a 19 year old, can easily run 12 miles in full combat gear and smokes two packs a day with a raging hangover.

wow, i would like to believe what i just read there is not true. i was always under the impression that doping was in the minority of the sport.

very interesting about the blood transfusion thing too, cant see how that would be legal either, but havent memorized the rulebook either.

be that as it may may slow Cat 5 ass wouldnt have a shot even on or off the juice; plus dont know how i would live with myself, ive always based my training and riding, and now racing on the level of suffering my body can take, thats the whole reason i do it. by juicing up i would be defrauding myself. id rather be OTB anyday.

That sucks. What happens when you don't go without your meds for awhile?

...he gets *****!!

Yeah, If I lay off the meds, I start getting tired all the time, my legs feel like logs, and I stop wanting to do anything. I'm real careful to stay on track. Most of the meds are cheap. $4 a month at the grocery store. One is $450 a month before insurance, and about $50 per month copay.

Meantime I am going to the gym, working out, and have signed up for a couple centuries. Big diff from this time last year.