No news is good news: Drug tests negative at nationals, worlds
USATF Masters Track National Chairman Gary Snyder reports that nobody tested positive for PEDs (illegal ingestibles) at the March indoor nationals in Bloomington. He didn’t say how many tests were done, but that’s a closely held secret anyway. World Masters Athletics announced the same all-clear on Finland worlds: “The chairman of the Anti-Doping and Medical [Committee] reports that the results of anti-doping tests carried out during the championship have all been certified OK — ‘negative’ in accordance with the testing and results procedures. There was also an increase in the TUE applications (medical waivers) and enquiries up to the start of the championships. This is good progress on behalf of the Masters family and For Clean Sport and Fair Play.”
9 Responses
I have nothing against them (TUE) but as long as we have competitors with TUE’s,(permission) the sport cannot be considered clean. Anyone can abuse medical use drugs also.
I have a TUE for the hydrochlorothzide (a diuretic) that I take for high blood pressure. What competitive advantage would I stand to gain if I was actually foolish enough to abuse it and further risk my health?
Come on Bryan. I know and you know that I am referring to performance inhancing drugs/harmones/steriods. You will have to ask the world anti-doping agency about any competitive advantage you can gain and not me. I did not make the list nor have I analyzed any of the substances.
Come on Bryan. I know and you know that I am referring to performance inhancing drugs/harmones/steroids. You will have to ask the world anti-doping agency about any competitive advantage you can gain and not me. I did not make the list nor have I analyzed any of the substances. If you would like to make a statement for everyone and state that everyone with a TUE is going to use their prescriptions exactly as prescribed, do it now. If you would like to make a statement that everyone with a TUE for harmones actually need them, do it now. Keep in mind that my original comment was about the sport not being clean due to TUE’s.
Mr Peyton -perhaps you need to read up on what WADA bans and what is allowed with a TUE. Do you know what one has to do to get a TUE? Do you know which prescription medications are allowed and in what amounts with a TUE? You paint those who need medications that are allowed with a TUE with a broad brush of being cheaters. That , by the way, would include insulin dependent diabetics – who are allowed to use prescribed insulin but must apply for a TUE, medications for heart disease, medication to treat asthma etc. Do you know which hormones and steroids are permitted and which ones are banned. If a medication is banned – there is no TUE for it. Do you understand the difference between banned peds and medications permitted with at TUE? Or are you just so anti-medication – regardless of its use, its ability to enhance performance – or not, its use as a masking drug or not – that you do not care. Are you aware that the list is constantly changing – for example – for many years I needed a TUE for an asthma inhaler. I applied for and received the TUE for its use. Last year that medication was removed from the need TUE list and no longer requires one. So -in your mind I have been “dirty” – am I now clean? I am still using the inhaler – same medication, same amount – or – in your mind once dirty always dirty?
Maybe I’m a bit out of the loop, but it has been my understanding that diuretics can be used to mask steroids thus making them abusable in the light that your post casts. My question wasn’t directed towards you, Mr. Peyton, nor was it about/for everyone (read: “What competitive advantage would I stand to gain if I was actually foolish enough to abuse it and further risk MY health?”). My question was posted for ANY of its readers to respond to. Furthermore, nowhere does my original post mentions steroids or hormones and (to be honest) I am a bit offended by the condescending tone of your response.
Break it up, break it up! LOL. As the youngin (35 years old) I believe theres a chance that we’re not being as honest with ourselves here. Mr Peyton notes “Anyone can abuse medical use drugs also.” I agree with that 100% it has been proven all around the world in a vast amount of sports through a large amount of age groups. And just because “ANYONE” can does not mean “EVERYONE” does. (Put in all caps for emphasis, I’m not yelling)
Mr Pierce I dont believe in any way that your diuretic would give you an advantage but as a possible mask for steroids it does allow the avenue for someone else.
Ms/Mrs Harada you note that Mr Peyton painted with a broad brush…..yet (respectively) you do the same when noting that your inhaler was removed from the TUE list and assume that he would consider you “dirty” and pose the question of does he now consider you clean. I’m sorry but I didnt get from his original post he would consider you dirty, you made that assumption on your own.
Simply put there are athletes with honest medical reasons as to why they are taking a certain medication. They will not abuse that medication, will train hard, compete harder and be a good sport about it all no matter what place they get. Yet there are those who will abuse it, who will use a friend/associate to get a medical waiver possibly for something that they dont even need in order to gain that advantage. Nothing will change that, it will always exist, its human nature. We only need to be honest to ourselves and continue to battle that clock or measuring tape because when its all said and done unless someone is caught….how would we know they’re clean or not, we wont but we will know what we did to get our individual results and hopefully it was done in an honorable fashion.
If anyone ‘abuses’ a TUE by taking more than prescribed or using it as a masking agent, they are opening themselves to a drug suspension. TUE’s have a ‘theraputic’ level by which the user is responsible for. There is plenty of info available from WADA at our national championships. All of us should avail ourselves of their expertise.
I spent four of the best years of my life honorably serving our country in the same unit as Kerry Sloan (also had the opportunity to train under him). That same honor enabled me to accept a 200 meter loss at the hands of Darnell Gatling (10 years older than me) four years later and embrace my future as a Masters athlete, and thank Reginald Pendland for the opportunity to compete against him at Penn last year. I am (and aspire to be) nothing more than an “ol’ man” who enjoys the benefits of training and the comradery of competing.
Leave a Reply