dexjava said:
Helmut, I get the feeling that you have doped and/or done quite a bit of drugs yourself and are trying to convince yourself (via convincing everyone around you) that you're safe and not going to start seeing health problems in the long run. Whether you're right or wrong about the article, that's the strong impression I get of your passion about doping not presenting health risks. Am I off?
I don't have to convince myself that I'm healthy. I have the blood tests to confirm this. Cholesterol, liver enzymes, BP -- the three big ones ref. steroid and testosterone use -- are well within normal ranges.
Well within. I likely have a clearer picture of my health than people who haven't done drugs and presume themselves healthy.
I've gone over my drug use before. Here's the Reader's Digest version:
I'm 43, raced bicycles since I was 17, swam competitively at six. The height of my stage racing I was 6-2 and weighed 155lbs. For crits it was around 165lbs. Now I'm 180lbs about 10% body fat. Started using steroids and testosterone at 26 in South America. My only regret is, I didn't start earlier.
A while back I got an annual health examine, discovered my testosterone was low and got a prescription of Upjohn Testosterone Depot. I did my own research as I had done in the past ref. my health, and restored my natural levels of testosterone using a fertility drug called Clomid, which actually improved my overall cholesterol score while raising my testosterone levels to just inside the high normal range. Meanwhile, I've got 20mls of Test Depot and 40 syringes. Guess what I did?
Long story short, my natural test levels had my weight at about 170lbs, 13 percent body fat, riding three times/week, lifting three times per week, ****ing the wife three times/week. After two years and six cycles of testosterone, I'm at the weight stated above, still ride three times/week and **** the wife twice that much. I don't race anymore but I still do competitive rides and regardless of whether I'm on a cycle of testosterone/EQ I can still ride with pros, get in breaks with them in the flats. They're always glad to see me. They know I dope and when I'm on a cycle. And know when they are too. How? It's like gaydar. When you dope, you immediately recognize others who do as well. We used to say, "they look chemical." Not sure what they say now.
Have I doped to win races in the past? Yes. Was everyone else around me doped? Absolutely. No question in my mind. The riders around me who I was competing against were also doped. I beat doped riders and got beat by doped riders.
Why do I still dope? Because I like it, honestly. And, I believe there is an actual health benefit to elevating your testosterone levels periodically throughout the year and then returning them to normal and so, I'll continue to run a cycle of EQ/testosterone two-to-three times/year so long as my blood results and BP stay within normal parameters. Would I ever do EPO or HGH? Probably not, but it's not out of the question.
Here's the deal. I don't look down on people who toe the line on these matters. But all the same, I'm not going to have legislated to me what I can and can't put in my body. If I can get a hold of it and I feel I realize a benefit, I'll use it. I see my body as a transport mechanism to experience things. I like to be outside. I like the feeling of movement, of traveling on foot or using human power vehicles. Steroids and testosterone enhance this.
From a health standpoint... In the early 80s to mid 90s I was using veterinarian grade steroids for horses. Everyone around me was doing the same. I stay in contact with most of those guys. None have any health problems to report. Nothing. Everyone is fine. A couple are fat and sit on the couch, but no cancers, heart attacks... nothing. And, of those who still race masters -- four in particular come to mind, pretty high profile guys -- they all dope still for big races. Don't bother doing nationals if you're a master and race clean... well, don't expect to podium or make the winning break. This is just reality. Personally, I think it's wrong, but that doesn't change anything.
