EPO, HGH & Steroids

rather than engage our troll in the thread on a sad recent death of a
young competitive rider, I have started this he

NOW, to get some things off my chest and to clarify as far as I know (
which isnt all that much, but too bad...) my understanding of side
effects, and long term effects of performance enhancing drugs decried
as the " drugs in sport" by all and sundry and what they can/have done
over the years is:-

*Steroid abuse: * can lead to liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, high
blood pressure, increases in "bad" LDL cholesterol, and other problems.

In men, steroids can cause shrinking of the testicles and breast
development. In women, they can cause masculinization of the body. In
adolescents, steroids can halt growth prematurely.
There is the potential effects on behavior. "In males, the testosterone
tends to make them more aggressive and violent, and it increases
libido." Hence, the term "roid rage." Athletes with a personal or
family history of psychiatric problems, steroid abuse makes them
especially vulnerable to behavioral or emotional problems. Such a
psychiatric history would include alcohol or drug addiction, violent or
criminal behavior, and bipolar disorder, among others, It can put them
over the edge." (now have we seen examples of this over the years, some
recent some back a bit...with the odd celeb in gaol and up on
disciplinary charges etc...) was it just adrenalin?

*EPO:* Abuse of erythropoietin (a drug that doctors use to treat
anemia, also known as Epogen and Procrit) to boost production of red
blood cells. Athletes hope that the increased numbers of red blood
cells will deliver more oxygen to muscles and improve endurance.
Erythropoietin abuse can alter the body's regulation of red blood cell
production. Once the drug is stopped, the number of red blood cells may
drop suddenly.

*HGH:* Human growth hormone can be abused, too. The brain produces
growth hormone to help the body control growth. But growth hormone also
comes in drug form to help children grow if their own bodies don't make
enough of the hormone. Sometimes athletes abuse growth hormone in an
attempt to build muscle and strength while reducing body fat. But
long-term abuse carries risks, such as increases in blood fat levels,
diabetes, and heart enlargement that may end in heart failure. Brings
to mind "that" lady runner who died of massive heart failure after she
retired, and another guy out here recently from the USA who was a
champion athlete and physically huge, who had three heart transplants ,
orginally due to failure caught in time and subsequently (when they got
his newly enlarged new heart diagnosed), for some reason it kept
happening as he kept taking HGH, (and still does)-reckons there are
lots of hearts out there he can access as he still has heaps of dosh-
sheesh!)

Tip of the iceberg, across all elite sports, but the general population
takes nicotine and caffeine too, both would be prohibited substances and
banned from our foodstuffs and social drug supply if they were trying to
introduce them now...ahh the dreaded pressures of commerce, industry and
government revenues...

what is wrong with good food, excercise, the body's natural secretions
and hard work and determination? ...I watched Greg Lemond's doco on
Fearless on A1 the other night, he found out the hard way that apart
from getting lead buckshot poisoning, that but even more so the
"secret " goings on at the sharp end of the peloton, after a few years
at the top of the Tour de France he couldnt win the natural way and
quit, (I'm not suggesting he was doping, but he was sure many of his
competitors were, which was later revealed in the doping scandals of
the mid 90's.

I would love to see the UCI and WADA be overtly ethical and moral ,
beyonf lipservice and follow due process and pro-actively stamp out
drugs altogether.

I dont think they will, as they are too tied up in politics and dollars
and personality wars...and this week the UCI & WADA and the pro-tour
organisers are enaged in "culture conflicts", with the pro tour guys
saying they will never get an acceptable model of best practice because
of the difference across cultures on how they do things relating to
performance enhancement practices...bloody hell

and we just want to ride bikes and watch good riders compete in the
spirit of fairplay and the glory etc etc....

where's the wine?

who's next?


--
rooman