Why is 35-39 AG for men so tough compared to 20-24 and 25-29 and 30-34 (Page 3)

That's crazy talk.  That's like saying Olympians (those REALLY gifted folks ) don't dope because they have the other gifts......we all know how that goes.

Look, wealthy people don't need to steal, but how come we keep arresting those who do?  Drugs to enhance health and performance is the story of our generation......it crosses all levels in sport.  Now put them in a sport that virtually NEVER tests (AG triathlon).  This is easy.

Yeah, I agree with  the "whatever" comment.....because, as you said, it is what it is.  But a level playing field is what we should all shoot for. THAT'S sport!  The data suggests you get beat by at least SOMEONE who cheats with PED's.  That's forked up.

3Mar, i think you're overestimating the effects of something like T-doping by an AGer.  A 55 year old might be taking T to get to a normal level, this isn't going to make them some crazy superstar necessarily.  BUT, it might mean that when he should be declining, he isn't.  Maybe he is still coming in 25th place overall, and you don't care, but he may still be placing in his AG and getting a KQ rolldown. 

I've also been in/watched enough races where 30 seconds was the difference between podium and not to be upset about these people taking T, or even pain killers.

I've heard good things about Xanax!  

Might need an expert in stroke analysis as I'm not qualified to compare it to "doggy".

You say "a level playing field is what we should all shoot for" and yet are the first person to say "everyone is doping".....how do you suggest we shoot for that level playing field?  I'm a big proponent for a level playing field.....and that goes for things like doping, mechanical doping, or a-holes who decide to deflate other competitor's tires in transition.  But when we all (or you) say/believe that people are doping and it's far more widespread than people want to think/believe, how do we deal with it?  How do we fix the issue?

I'm with 3mar here.....the system is broken.  It might not be fixable in the short term....and if that's the case, I'm going to do everything I can to compete against the dopers/cheaters in the most honest way possible.  I'm going to work my butt off, and if/when I get beaten, I'm going to work harder and I'm not going to dwell on it or stress out about it, but given the opportunity/knowledge, I will absolutely out someone who is not going about it in a legal/fair way.  I'm not sure there's much else to do beyond whining about it on the internet, and I'm pretty sure that's solved a whole lotta nothing in the past. 

Show me where I said "everyone is doping"......I never said that.  I DID say it's far more widespread then you think it is.  You solve it by testing.....just like every sport works to solve it.  Triathlon is not that interested at this point, outside of a bit of eyewash  And at the AG level there will NEVER be any true interest....so yeah, as I said, it is what it is. 

It's not whining.  It's a discussion about whether it's prevalent or not, and it certainly is.  It's all fine to say that you will just work harder and beat those folks......I hope you do and I'm rooting for you.  It got so bad in cycling that the athletes came to realize they COULDN'T beat the guys who were doping, harder work be damned.... which led to even more widespread use.  You're probably a better athlete then those guys were.

Marc,

What about ABP?  I was under the impression that the passport is a major step forward in anti-doping efforts.