Competing and hormone therapy in men (what does BT think)

The Science of Sport blog has some great commentary on this.

Personally, I have no problem with replacement therapy so long as the end result is normal levels and not elevated levels - even if the reason for the drop in levels was solely caused by intense training.

By competing do you mean you reach the podium (or close to it)?

Looks like you said no. Then I would not worry about it in the least.  If you do place in a small race once again I would not worry.  If you are placing in big races time and again then I would wonder about it.

Competing, while using or having used a banned substance without a TUE is cheating.

Whether you win, place, are close to placing, or dead last, this is not a gray area.

In your specific question, I support the others' advice.

Get an TUE, or if not... focus on your priorities in life that will make you healthy and happy in a deeply meaningful way and don't sweat the small stuff.

My experience is that what you are taking is not a PED per se, but it could likely be banned because these class of drugs are very commonly used to mitigate anabolic steroids' side-effects caused by the high amounts of the exogenous testosterone that converts to estrogen. (Gyno, bloating, etc.)

Like others have said, Baby is more important, and you can try to get a TUE.  I have never been tested at any event, but if competing is so important that you are thinking about competing while on a banned substance, then you need to be willing to accept that you could be tested at an event, and could be banned from competing in the future.

I'd also point out that there are plenty of other events you could do for a few years until you are no longer on a banned substance.  There are runs, century rides, swims, etc.  Maybe step away for a short time while you are on the drugs.  It is a hobby.

That's exactly what I think. As others have mentioned, increasing your chances of conceiving far outweighs any other considerations. As an amateur you'll probably never be tested. And if it was me, I'd take the 1 in a million chance of taking a DQ.

I 100% disagree with the above.  It does not matter if there was a 1 in a million chance or a 100% change of getting tested, you would be cheating.  Regardless of WHY you are taking it.  If you cut the course on an out and back course and get 40th vs 45th you still cheat. 

It's really that simple.  It's more important, I would say, to have the amateur ranks not be dopers than it is the pros.  Try and rationalize it away how ever you want, but if you are taking a banned substance and competing, you are a doper.

But family trumps a $25 medal, so focus on you and stay away from signing up for a race.  Easy Peasy.

Example:  If you are in last place and in order to make the cut-off you have to cut the course.  Would you?  No one would know.  No one would care...but that's not the point. 

There may also some regional differences in the prescription and TUE paperwork.

I live in Southern California.

In the time since this thread was started, you could have the meds - more TUE supporting paperwork than is necessary - a medical marijuana card AND a lawyer writing a letter threatening a discrimination lawsuit if the TUE does not get approved.

Lack of sarc font intentional.

True story. Text conversation with a buddy...

Friend - I think I may benefit from Adderall. How can I avoid having to jump through all those hoops?

Me - Dude. I am not coaching you into an ethical violation of my license. Besides, you live in Los Angeles. If you cannot get a prescription, you aren't trying enough.

**** 3 hours later *****

Friend - You were right.

Me - You have an appointment?

Friend - No, I am already at the pharmacy with a prescription.

**** 3 weeks later****

Friend - Looks like I need to find another doctor! 

http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2010/065.html

Family and your health trumps this hobby we do.

It's a prohibited substance for sure:

http://www.globaldro.com/us-en/search/BrandStatus.aspx?brandid=28641&countryid=3&sportid=102&exact=0&searchid=978271&userid=1&show=All&search=arimidex&newSearch=false

It's prohibited both in-competion and out-of competition.

If you are not a national or international ranked athlete, you are not always required to file for an advance TUE.  However, for this particular drug, you are, as indicated here:

http://www.usada.org/tue-determine

To apply for a TUE, your doctor needs to fill out some forms and you email it to USADA.  From your description of the condition and treatment, I would think you have a good chance of being granted the TUE.

http://www.usada.org/tue-apply/

Good luck, with the treatment and baby-making, and with the TUE process!

Thanks for all the input. It is a bit of an ethical dilema for me in some respects but I have also been more run focused lately so I might just stay with that for this season but I will have to see. Granted, there is also always the chance that this medicine does not even effect my testosterone levels and then it wont do me any good! I will have to think about this some more.

thanks all

x2.  If it's banned, and you knowingly take it and compete without a TUE, it's wrong.

Actually, it's not that simple. Cutting the course is taking an advantage that nobody had, and stealing time and distance. That is simple. Boosting T from low to normal is not a performance boost over your competition if they are all normal. If everyone's T is in normal range, everyone is equal. If you boost your T to high end of normal, or over that, that is a perfomance boost, an andvantage.

If you are juicing, you are juicing. Boosting T may or may not be a perfomance boost... but it is against the "rules" regardless.

Please.... so I do have a medical reason... and I do the paper work, and I recieve the TUE... and I still race, and it isn't an advantage.

Yet this is a hobby, I am nothing more that a MOP hobbist, that does this for fun. No EPO, no blood transfusions, no money and prizes. I actually doubt I would ever see a podium if I actually did all that.... So I'm not getting a performance boost, the only rule I'm breaking is not going through the paper work to put a TUE in place. And if I am found to be breaking that rule, I accept the punishment. I sleep fine at night. Conduct your life to get good sleep however you feel necessary.

Not just T... but there is a whole host of drugs on the list that are banned that people do use that don't get TUEs for either... like asthma drugs. They are cheating too for not getting TUEs for their inhalers... but I don't care.

You may not care, but it's cheating.  You mention that someone has low T vs other than have 'normal' and they are just leveling the playing field.  Low T is a product of aging.  So now, since I found a doctor that says I have low T, I can just take a banned substance because I just want to 'level the playing field'. 

I don't have the natural talent or desire to go train, so I just want to level the playing field and take a banned substance (name one, any one).  I can't run as fast as that person, so I will run a shorter distance because it levels the playing field.  He still wins so I won't be on the podium.  It's the same thing no matter how you want to spin it.

It's not about podiums, it's not about anything other than whether you are cheating or not.  Results do not have a role in it.  Results are for those that want to rationalize their cheating and say it's ok. 

It's no different than saying: I'm going to draft off everyone I can until I get caught and then I'll just accept the punishment.  I mean I got caught 1 time out of 30 races, that's great odds.  Not seeing a problem right?  Wrong. 

But in the end, it's up to the individual to determine their own ethics to do it.  And then it's up to USAT/WADA to catch them. 

I have encountered this issue with some of my athletes and it's a very direct conversation.  If they feel it's a quality of life issue, them PLEASE take it.  But I will not coach you and if I know you are on it and race I WILL turn you in. 

If you have a TUE, then USADA has deemed that you are not gaining an advantage sufficient to warrant your exclusion from racing.  If you do NOT get a TUE when one is required, then yes, you are cheating.

Also, asthma meds ( rescue inhalers/beta-2 agonists ), do NOT require a TUE unless you are a nationally or internationally ranked athlete.

http://www.usada.org/tue/non-national

According to USADA policy, athletes not currently in a registered testing pool are considered Non-National Level Athletes. This group of athletes may include recreational level, Master’s level, or even elite level athletes that do not presently meet the criteria for pool inclusion. Non-National Level Athletes are not required to submit a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in advance of use in sport for certain prohibited substances. This is limited to the following substances: 

1. Substances that are prohibited only in-competition or certain sports 
2. Diuretics and other masking agents 
3. Beta-2 agonists 
4. Insulin- where the athlete can provide medical files demonstrating insulin-dependent diabetes. 

All other prohibited substances require an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption in advance of competing in order to use the substance in sport without incurring an anti-doping rule violation. 

Good for you.

I sleep fine at night. I don't need a coach. It's a hobby.

I never said a word about leveling any playing field... because I don't care about the field or where I place in it. I know enough about the subject to know it was actually low, it caused a bunch of problems, and I started doing it before I got into tris. And I didn't get into tris because I felt better, I got into tris because I was digusted with myself how I had let myself go. Tris were only the carrot that got me off the couch. But training 3 sports is kind of a PITA. I'm still active, but not doing tris this year.

It's so easy today to take PEDs. To get a boost. Who's going to know? Any number of things I can take to boost my performance. Not to win a race, but just to be faster than I am and feel younger.... but I know it's just the dope. What's the point? I know it's not me, I know it's not my training. Why the heck should I even haul my butt out of bed 20 hours a week to do the grind when I know it's all dope? So I don't do it.

If you truely are doping for performance. That's a different discussion. I say I'm not, and you say I am because it is helping me suck at HIMs instead of really sucking. So what? There are many things I can't live with. Not filing for a TUE is not one of them.