Any clinic members ever doped?

[Red Rick]

Most of my time playing sports was spent playing tennis, not at an amazing level. Never got close or even heard about doping there. Then I got injured and only now I am slowly starting to take up cycling myself, so noping for me. I don't what I'd do if I were pro though. If I considered it reasonably safe and it was easy to get away with I could imagine myself taking it in that situation.

Only thing I ever could test positive for would be cafeine or alcohol

 

[Hawkwood]

Still legal now.

I'm a total lightweight. I think the mix was orange juice, aspirin (or another painkiller), and bicarbonate of soda, I tried it once, we won (two man TT).

I spent my racing career drug free, when I should have been on drugs for asthma.

 

[Berzin]

Gavandope-no one in their right mind who is doping as an amateur-/master's racer, or even a hard-core recreational rider, is ever going to confess and explain to the whole internet world what they take.

 

[unamused]

there are other websites that discuss this.
When I was into weights I took pills that later got pulled off the market because they were actually roids or an estrogen blocker.

 

[SundayRider]

I don't really class gym rats taking roids as doping per se, I'd call it more 'a way that a person is dealing with an image problem'. They aren't doing it to win a competition or beat their PB times etc.

 

[Gavandope]

Gavandope-no one in their right mind who is doping as an amateur-/master's racer, or even a hard-core recreational rider, is ever going to confess and explain to the whole internet world what they take.

Hard core I totally agree - no pro or semi pro for sure but dabbled using a one off subcutaneous shot of Eprex that's a possibility. If we all want the pro's to own up and have a clean sport free of blood doping why shouldn't there be an amnesty here.

I know the effects of roids but aside from reading the usual ghost written experiences of taking Edgar it would be interesting to hear others experiences of taking it, if they are brave enough to admit it.

Though I would be happy with a PM for those who don't want outing!

 

[Gavandope]

I don't really class gym rats taking roids as doping per se, I'd call it more 'a way that a person is dealing with an image problem'. They aren't doing it to win a competition or beat their PB times etc.

It's a PB competition mostly; how much more weight you can push more than last time you trained the body parts, when you train in a group of 2/3 you can really push each other really hard and properly rest between sets. I never had washboard abs but I suppose I did do it out of vanity - I had twiglet arms and it certainly helped me confidence wise with the ladies from when I took my first few courses.

I trained dope free for 2 years and out of about 25 years of using weights I doped over in total a 5 year period, usually 6-8 weeks on, 8/12 weeks off.

I don't regret it either though there's no chance of me doping ever again. I don't need to get big and when I do train clean the muscle memory is there and I add mass pretty quickly as long as I eat protein little and often enough. Mixing it up with cycling now, only really using weights on my upper body..

 

[hiero2]

There's little commonality that I can see between narcissistic gym rats acting relatively freely, often within their own knowledge base, to abuse themselves with steroids and the situation with pro-cyclists on carefully-organised ped programmes which, as recent history tells us, are largely managed by medical doctors with more than half an eye fixed firmly on doping controls.

Chalk and cheese really.

Not so really. Almost all of the cyclists doing performance enhancing are/were seeking it, or know what is being done, and are/were collaborating. Some few were "enhanced" without their open consent, but that is the exception, not the rule.

Played my best soccer match ever having a gigantic hangover from way too much beer, hashies and wine, perhaps my body doped itself that day. Adrenaline rush or something like that.

One time I took a recreational caffeine pill or two, perhaps three, never again. No finishing bottles here; slept with my eyes open for two days. Now I understand why some sportsmen are hooked on sleeping pillls...

No, never doped myself, didnt need to too, vitamine C worked just fine in those days.

As a recreational cyclist I really dont see the point in it. There are lots of methods to enhance your endurance; better nutrition, better bikes, better roads



I do kinda feel sad for people who dope though, they seem to have a low self esteem. I mean, they cannot accept the fysiologic bounderies of there own body.

As a rec cyclist, kinda the same. I also raced, though, as an amateur. I certainly would have done ephedra and caffeine when available. I took advantage of steroids when I had a legal scrip for it. That didn't last long, but it was fun! I would not go illegal on this, due to the many risks.

Gavandope-no one in their right mind who is doping as an amateur-/master's racer, or even a hard-core recreational rider, is ever going to confess and explain to the whole internet world what they take.

I don't know why you would say that, when we have posters here who HAVE manned up - at least in limited amounts - in this very forum. Not to mention posters who manned up after the catch, like Joe Papp. We had one thread, about thyroid use, and a poster there talked about his thyroid use to reduce weight for modeling. Not exactly legal there, and not without risk, either. I think that thread was here at CN, but might have been elsewhere. I recall forum conversations (threads) where a former pro or two discussed some aspects of what they had done. Of course, all those examples are in the past, and thus may not be what you are thinking of. But they fit the topic, afaic.

And, you know, on the muscle-building forums, lots of guys OPENLY discuss current regimens. I don't go to tri-forums, but would not be surprised if one existed where performance-enhancing methodology was discussed.

As for me - the truly illegal dope I did was all recreational, and several decades in the past. Got a little burnt out on it early on, and never went that road again. But it did give me an understanding of the aspects of doing things illegal, and the insides of justifying the illegal bit to oneself.

 

[melkemugg]

ive smoked weed, does that count?

 

[SundayRider]

It's a PB competition mostly; how much more weight you can push more than last time you trained the body parts, when you train in a group of 2/3 you can really push each other really hard and properly rest between sets. I never had washboard abs but I suppose I did do it out of vanity - I had twiglet arms and it certainly helped me confidence wise with the ladies from when I took my first few courses.

I trained dope free for 2 years and out of about 25 years of using weights I doped over in total a 5 year period, usually 6-8 weeks on, 8/12 weeks off.

I don't regret it either though there's no chance of me doping ever again. I don't need to get big and when I do train clean the muscle memory is there and I add mass pretty quickly as long as I eat protein little and often enough. Mixing it up with cycling now, only really using weights on my upper body..

Yeah I understand your reasons but in that situation people must feel pretty bad about themselves to need to resort to drugs to be able to life as much weight as their mates and to have bigger biceps. I'm a natural ecto and would need to totally change my lifestyle to put on significant amounts of muscle.

 

[deValtos]

3 to 4 shots of insulin a day.

I'm T1 diabetic though so it's probably more incentivised by the prospect of staying alive rather than marginal gains.

Oddly enough insulin is a lot easier for non-diabetics to abuse (provided they have a supply.)

Team Novo Nordisk is great and all but they're not exactly setting the world on fire.

 

[yespatterns]

Four times:

1) psuedoephedrine in a crit

2) asthma inhaler during two races in the winter (my asthma is cold-induced)

3) a half dose of tramadol when i was riding with a broken finger

These were in the early 2000's, so im not sure if it was doping then or not

 

[ToreBear]

Who knew roids could be used for doping?! I thought they were just a pain in the ***.

 

[Gavandope]

Yeah I understand your reasons but in that situation people must feel pretty bad about themselves to need to resort to drugs to be able to life as much weight as their mates and to have bigger biceps. I'm a natural ecto and would need to totally change my lifestyle to put on significant amounts of muscle.

I was 21 years old and stupid - all I can say and I made plenty more fubar moves till I grew up. Wouldn't change a bit of it in hindsight it was the beginning of a very memorable and wild part of my young adult life. If anyone is in the UK and remember what the rave culture here and in Ibiza from 1988 onwards they might understand

 

[gustienordic]

inhaler for ski racing/ road races, but I had sports induced asthma - but that's kind of a bulls*** diagnosis for the most part.

I could tell the difference between performances especially when it was really really cold.

 

[SundayRider]

I was 21 years old and stupid - all I can say and I made plenty more fubar moves till I grew up. Wouldn't change a bit of it in hindsight it was the beginning of a very memorable and wild part of my young adult life. If anyone is in the UK and remember what the rave culture here and in Ibiza from 1988 onwards they might understand

Oh I'm not criticising you decision to take what you did, I know people that have. I just personally could never rationalise why.

 

[Gavandope]

Oh I'm not criticising you decision to take what you did, I know people that have. I just personally could never rationalise why.

There's nothing to criticise - we all choose our own paths and make choices. I chose to take roids and although I look back on it as a silly thing it took me down a path I doubt I would never have trodden without. I certainly wouldn't have had the conquests either

There's plenty of other scenarios I can't rationalise about either - though with doping and cycling I think I can understand why a bit more. If you were getting smashed to pieces like pretty much every pro rider from 91-98 by guys who you knew you could beat clean it must be one hell of a Kobayashi Maru scenario for them.

 

[D-Queued]

inhaler for ski racing/ road races, but I had sports induced asthma - but that's kind of a bulls*** diagnosis for the most part.

I could tell the difference between performances especially when it was really really cold.

Not sure that this is really a bs diagnosis, as I think a considerable minority actually have this. Please note comments below, however, on whether or not there are true ergogenic benefits.

My experiences include:

1. Caffeine
2. Asthma medication(s)
3. Sudafed
4. Glycerol
5. Sodium Bicarbonate

1. Caffeine

I competed when Caffeine was on the banned list. I laughed at this at that time, and never used it then.

As a Masters cyclist, though, I have rarely raced without at least a full cup of coffee or equivalent. Though recently I did win a race in N. Cal. without any of this miraculous 'help'.

The advantages of caffeine are quite amazing: Pain relief, CNS stimulant, ergogenic benefits. Moreover, according to the literature, caffeine may enhance or unlock ergogenic benefits of other substances.

2. Asthma

I have carried an inhaler with me for over a decade - both Ventalin/Salbutamol and Symbicort. My asthma was clinically diagnosed with the methacholine test. Tests with/without Ventalin indicated improved lung function (function remained < normal) even without asthma symptoms.

I used to use the inhaler religiously, for all workouts and races and at one time I did have a TUE when this was required/recommended.

Now I carry the inhaler, but never use it. More of a philosophical POV that if my body tires or objects, I will just stop racing. Besides, it always feels weird to take a puff in your car before a race.

There has been at least one recent WADA-supported study of Ventalin in a non-asthmatic population of highly trained athletes. The findings were mixed. Increased lung function was observed (not exactly sure what improved as I don't have the study and only spoke with one of the subjects), but no performance advantage ensued - or at least no statistically relevant advantage.

3. Sudafed

Not used in races or even when cycling generally, but experiences when scuba diving were strongly suggestive of ergogenic advantage. I used to carry it for air travel, but haven't done so in a long time.

Here is the latest from WADA on sudafed, ephedrine and mehylephedrine:

*** Each of ephedrine and methylephedrine is prohibited when its concentration in urine is greater than 10 micrograms per milliliter.
**** Local administration (e.g. nasal, ophthalmologic) of epinephrine (adrenaline) or co-administration with local anaesthetic agents is not prohibited.
***** Pseudoephedrine is prohibited when its concentration in urine is greater than 150 micrograms per milliliter.

I have no idea how much you need to take to achieve/stay under these limits.

4. Glycerol

Supposed to be a hydration benefit. I just checked and am surprised to see that it is (now) on The List as a plasma expander. Tried this as an experiment once - and I thought it was not on the list at the time (i.e. thought I was testing a legal option), hence my surprise.

As I recall, you had to drink a lot of it - enough that it seemed like you might as well just drink water. I still got really tired and really thirsty and my performance didn't seem to have benefited in any way, though at least it didn't seem to have suffered.

5. Sodium Bicarbonate

Not on the list. Some (?) studies suggest that this can reduce or buffer lactate. Cautions include possible nausea. Tried this once as well. Hard to ingest at the recommended dosage, but no nausea. No perceived benefit or measurable benefit.



In summary: go with caffeine and forget all this other crap even if you are allowed to use it or think you are allowed (see notes on Glycerol above).

But, if you can't get a cup o joe, don't worry about it. You can still win.

Dave.

 

[SundayRider]

Not sure that this is really a bs diagnosis, as I think a considerable minority actually have this. Please note comments below, however, on whether or not there are true ergogenic benefits.

My experiences include:

1. Caffeine
2. Asthma medication(s)
3. Sudafed
4. Glycerol
5. Sodium Bicarbonate

1. Caffeine

I competed when Caffeine was on the banned list. I laughed at this at that time, and never used it then.

As a Masters cyclist, though, I have rarely raced without at least a full cup of coffee or equivalent. Though recently I did win a race in N. Cal. without any of this miraculous 'help'.

The advantages of caffeine are quite amazing: Pain relief, CNS stimulant, ergogenic benefits. Moreover, according to the literature, caffeine may enhance or unlock ergogenic benefits of other substances.

2. Asthma

I have carried an inhaler with me for over a decade - both Ventalin/Salbutamol and Symbicort. My asthma was clinically diagnosed with the methacholine test. Tests with/without Ventalin indicated improved lung function (function remained < normal) even without asthma symptoms.

I used to use the inhaler religiously, for all workouts and races and at one time I did have a TUE when this was required/recommended.

Now I carry the inhaler, but never use it. More of a philosophical POV that if my body tires or objects, I will just stop racing. Besides, it always feels weird to take a puff in your car before a race.

There has been at least one recent WADA-supported study of Ventalin in a non-asthmatic population of highly trained athletes. The findings were mixed. Increased lung function was observed (not exactly sure what improved as I don't have the study and only spoke with one of the subjects), but no performance advantage ensued - or at least no statistically relevant advantage.

3. Sudafed

Not used in races or even when cycling generally, but experiences when scuba diving were strongly suggestive of ergogenic advantage. I used to carry it for air travel, but haven't done so in a long time.

Here is the latest from WADA on sudafed, ephedrine and mehylephedrine:



I have no idea how much you need to take to achieve/stay under these limits.

4. Glycerol

Supposed to be a hydration benefit. I just checked and am surprised to see that it is (now) on The List as a plasma expander. Tried this as an experiment once - and I thought it was not on the list at the time (i.e. thought I was testing a legal option), hence my surprise.

As I recall, you had to drink a lot of it - enough that it seemed like you might as well just drink water. I still got really tired and really thirsty and my performance didn't seem to have benefited in any way, though at least it didn't seem to have suffered.

5. Sodium Bicarbonate

Not on the list. Some (?) studies suggest that this can reduce or buffer lactate. Cautions include possible nausea. Tried this once as well. Hard to ingest at the recommended dosage, but no nausea. No perceived benefit or measurable benefit.



In summary: go with caffeine and forget all this other crap even if you are allowed to use it or think you are allowed (see notes on Glycerol above).

But, if you can't get a cup o joe, don't worry about it. You can still win.

Dave.

Your right about caffiene its potent stuff. If I skip my morning coffee by the time early afternoon comes around I feel terrible - I begin to get a headache, leathargic, irritable, lower mood than average. I think if you ingest caffiene daily then its performance enhancing effects are muted somewhat.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Does beet root in a pill count?

I found it on the shelf of my local natural food store as a 'blood builder' and had to see if Lim's idea worked.

I don't see any benefits with just two pills a day. Still ramping up. Chances are excellent this will be the last bottle....

 

[slowspoke]

Your right about caffiene its potent stuff. If I skip my morning coffee by the time early afternoon comes around I feel terrible - I begin to get a headache, leathargic, irritable, lower mood than average. I think if you ingest caffiene daily then its performance enhancing effects are muted somewhat.

I remember in the early 90's being at a Scottish national swim meet that was sponsored by Red Bull. They had a booth poolside with unlimited Red Bull for the competitors which we all went to town on. Don't think anyone would have pass doping controls if they had been at the meet! Didn't swim particularly well if I remember, probably because or sugar levels would have been all over the shop.

 

[proffate]

coffee spikes your adrenaline. Adrenaline has obvious performance enhancing benefits, including painkilling. Some of the effects of caffeine are reduced in heavy users, but I'm not sure if that applies to all the effects or just some. There are other stimulants in coffee besides just caffeine, at least I've heard this before, but can't find a source...

 

[papisimo98]

Before a pretty big mountain bike race as an amateur on the west coast it was starting to rain. It was going to be a cold and miserable 3 hrs in the rain, wind, and mud.
My sister and I smoked a bowl before my start. Ended up having a great race and really embraced the conditions.
It definitely changed my mindset though I'd been competitive all year and was in the hunt for victory regardless. I didn't win but was very satisfied with my race.
Would that be considered performance enhancing?
By the way Gavandope, appreciate your honesty.
I never raced on anything but weed(after a race never before minus exception mentioned above), oatmeal, and water but always wondered why some were so twitchy on race day.

 

[Gavandope]

I remember in the early 90's being at a Scottish national swim meet that was sponsored by Red Bull. They had a booth poolside with unlimited Red Bull for the competitors which we all went to town on. Don't think anyone would have pass doping controls if they had been at the meet! Didn't swim particularly well if I remember, probably because or sugar levels would have been all over the shop.

I've overdosed on vodka/red bull with an all day night session at notting hill carnival and also and an espresso session like landis - I don't recommend either though the former if you forget to drink a litre of water before passing out can leave you with a monumental hangover!

 

[53x11 in DC]

Caffeine and 600-800mg ibuprofen before long training rides (anything over 2.5 hours). Never use ibuprofen otherwise.

In college racing, Alka Seltzer was all the rage.