Testosterone Supplements (Page 2)

Without a TUE, testosterone supplements in any form are doping.

Even with a TUE, it's doping. You just get an exemption when you test positive.

As other have pointed out, there is a big difference between a Dr. Script for Low T and getting a TUE.  You can walk into pretty much any clinic and be 'diagnosed' with Low T.  No issue there. 

My issue occurs that as soon as you take that Testosterone and line up to race, you are committing a violation of use of a Banned Substance.  It's truly that simple.  There, IMHO, no debate.

And while the use of the word never is cast about plentiful these days, I'm fairly certain that Never is appropriate for a recreational athlete getting a TUE and I will extend it to pro's as well most likely.

An Aside:

I think that this issue is going to be a big deal very soon in our sport.  Now that "Low T" is a common medical issue like Erectile Dysfunction has become in the last few years, there will be more and more athletes on Testosterone supplementation.  These athletes are not attempting to KQ or get an edge but just trying to "live life".  But once AG testing become more prominent they WILL get popped for T. 

And then what do we do as a sport?

I guess I need to use T just to be able to sit down then, because dayum, these things are big

I guess send our small testicled compatriots to the penalty box for a couple years?

With all do respect it is not such a clear cut issue. If you suffer from low testosterone (not just fall below some artificial clinic's measure) then your body is out of hormonal balance and life can be very unpleasant. So if a person desires the same quality of life as the rest of us and takes medical steps to increase his testosterone levels to normal levels for their age then by your rule they are dopers and should not line up to race. I think that is unfair.

Better doctors will prescribe safe medications that stimulate your natural production (HCG) rather than giving you exogenous Testosterone which only makes things worse. Under those circumstances there will be no failed test. But in the event that they can not restart normal production then they should be allowed to race and only be sanctioned if their total levels are outside of normal ranges for their age. (Of course I do not know if someone could dope and then stop and have their ranges normal but cheaters will always cheat).

I respectfully disagree with you.  I agree that if it's a real or perceived quality of life issue, then by all means, go ahead and get supplementation (natural or other-wise).  But as soon as you step on that start line, regardless of the reason you are taking those drugs, you are indeed a doper.  Like it or not, those are the rules. 

You are a cheater if you are on a banned substance regardless of the reason (assuming no TUE).

That persons quality of life simply does not include Triathlon or any other sport that is a signatory to the WADA code.  In the end it's a choice, pure and simple.

No.  You have to make a choice of being 'healthy' or racing in competition.  You are free to do multisport.  If you race without a TUE, you are cheating.  Saying 'others cheat' does not make it OK.

And I bet there will be RDs that are more than happy to allow people to 'have fun' in a race setting that are taking T supplementation as long as they agree to exclude themselves from AG results.  In fact, that might be a good way to consider dealing with the growing issue (haven't really thought about it before, so there may be negatives that didn't jump to mind)--have athletes 'self-declare' themselevs 'non-AG racers' with their results reported but not included in 'official' overall results.

I could be wrong on this, but I thought when you sign up for a race put on by an organization like the USAT, that is governed by USADA, it doesn't matter if you are trying for a podium spot or not.  If you are taking a banned substance without a TUE, you are considered doping no matter what place you finish in, and if tested and you fail, you will be subject to the same penalties as podium winners or pros. 

Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong though...that was just my assumption.

That type of segmentation might work.  But if I was a race insurance provider, I'm not sure how I would feel about it if the race I am insuring is openly allowing some participants to take banned substances.  Does that increase the risk of athletes having a medical condition while racing?  Maybe...maybe not.

We are all on the same page. 

I used those words because 'someone' will come back with a single case with such outside the box circumstances that it happened.  I do not know of one single instance where a TUE was issued for T nor do I think one will ever be granted, hence the 'disclaimer'.

This is an interesting topic that I'm glad people are talking about.  Unfortunately, I'm in the mix of this.  Over the past year, I've been feeling in the dumps for no apparent reason.  Well a visit to my doctor in July resulted in a blood test and low and behold they call back and say "Hey!!  You have low T (200, age 46) The doctor wants to prescribe a patch and it will probably make a world of difference for you."  Now enter Ironman and I had to say well that's all great but it's not that easy.

Like many others, I came from a complete non-athletic background and at age 41 a friend talked me into triathlon.  I weighed 210, high blood pressure, I could go on and on...  Fast forward to present and I weigh 165, eating healthy, and training daily for my 4th Ironman in as many years, and have never been more fit except for....  yep, catch 22.

I'm really on the fence on this.   It's a hobby and a lifestyle choice and I don't feel like going through all the paper work that will most likely be met with a dead end if I decide to go forward with the patches.  The past three races I have finished right around 12:30 so in my mind I'm only racing myself and the others in the race are helping me push myself more than I would if I just decided to go out on a week and "go the distance".  This really has been heavy on my mind for the last few months because with my luck, I'd get caught and be broadcast across the net as a doper.  (Maybe not as bad as broadcasting myself as low T across the net. LOL)

This might be an excellent way for Ironman to get rid of the mass swim start craziness.  Have the pros go, then the weekend warriors that are out to qualify for Kona or those concerned they might show up as finishing 1,623 when that Todd "doper guy" finished 1,622 and then have a start for the non-competitive, just in it to finish and see what time we get guys?

I have been a flight instructor for many years and one of the worst things is having a student show up that has wanted to be a pilot all their life, just for me to tell them that their past medical condition may not make that possible.  Sure some of them can spend hunderds and thousands of dollars to prove they are still fit and they do but... is that really where we want the sport to go? 

Not trying to start a fight, just a discusssion because I truly understand both sides of this issue.

I see where you're coming from here. I think in participatory sports (like tri is for most), the people who are taking banned substances should DQ themselves from medal contention/KQ slots, etc. IOW let them participate, but not win. When you get to the pointy end, it starts to look more like people are taking the substances to win, which is a definite no-no.

Keep in mind, this is a common argument for many dopers. 'Hey, if so-and-so gets to have a hematocrit level of 50%, why can't I?' It can become a slippery slope.

I'm currently going through this same ordeal and I totally agree with your viewpoint. I'm a 26 year old guy and my testosterone has been tested multiple times and it has ranged from 77-183.  It's my personal viewpoint that if you have chronically low T and have to take synthetic hormones (prescribed by a doctor; not the OTC stuff) you should be able to race, receive medals, & KQ. It takes a lot more than a single hormone (training, time, money, etc.) to get to that level and if you obtain a doctors exemption then you should be able to race.

The last thing I'm willing to do is give up on my passions and live a sexually repressed life to satisfy USAT rules. There are long-term & irreversible effects of testosterone replacement (impotency namely) and that's the reason I haven't opted to take the synthetic hormone (yet). I've met with my doctor & an endocrinologist so I'm fairly informed on this topic.