Performance enhancing substances among amateurs

[Dope2survive]

Hectic stuff. Thanks for sharing. Felt like I was reading a mini version of "The Secret Race".

 

Some questions: (I hope you don't mind.)

 

How old were you when you started?

At what level were you racing at, and were you a pro or an amateur?

How did you find your doctor?

No worries, I dont mind. Thats why i did it...

 

I was fourteen, it started when I visited the doctor, I stayed tired all the time and obviously i was training hard. So he suggested a multivitamin, Trioplex was the name. (It does not exist anymore I think) He said that if i dont feel better i must come back, and then he showed me Geri Complex. He did not help me with the steroids! This was all "underground".

 

At that point I was riding provincial, not yet a pro. 

 

When I later started riding again i went to my GP and asked him straight out, after the shock he started advising me... 

[Skubarra]

Thanks for sharing Dope2survive.

 

I assume you never got tested positively? Not enough testing going around or were you able to "cheat" the tests?

[Squier]

Riveting stuff!

 

Shall we start another thread to speculate who you are and keep this one for the doping questions? ;-) Honestly though, interesting read.

 

Question: Was the bio passport in place locally when all this went down? How effective do you really think it is?

[nigelhicks]

Interesting read there Dope2survive ...

 

Were you riding road or mtb? or both?

 

---

 

My ballie would be able to agree with you regarding the bit about not being able to keep up with the bunch etc ... when he raced semi-pro road in Belgium when he was a Senior back in the 60's or so - he came from SA with a number of track and road National Titles and records ... got there and didnt even finish a race for like 2 months ... 

 

Eventually he got to finishing in the bunch but that was the best he could do - so he asked his manager what he was doing wrong ... and his manager said - "just take these" ... they were amphetamine if i recall ... so he took them - felt INSANE ... and did well ..

 

but the aftershock feeling from the drugs was too much for him so he stopped and came home a month or so later ... he said that even the juniors were on it ... and when the police (Gendarmerie) rocked up the riders just threw stuff out their pockets onto the floor and it looked like confetti ... So HECTIC ...

 

Its such a pity it is so rife in our sport ... 

[Sportsworld.co.za]

Amazing insight dope2survive.

 

Your conclusion is the best:

 

"Will I do it again? No I wont. Why not? I have put it behind me and moved forward. i wanted to start riding my bike again and see if i enjoy it like back when I was a kid again, and i love getting on the bike and enjoy quiet time."

 

Seeing my sons enjoyment while riding their bikes, puts a smile on my face.

It's great to jump on your bike, shift a few gears down, and just enjoy riding like it's your 1st time again.

[Dope2survive]

Thanks for sharing Dope2survive.

 

I assume you never got tested positively? Not enough testing going around or were you able to "cheat" the tests?

We were never tested, not ever...

[Dope2survive]

Riveting stuff!

 

Shall we start another thread to speculate who you are and keep this one for the doping questions? ;-) Honestly though, interesting read.

 

Question: Was the bio passport in place locally when all this went down? How effective do you really think it is?

Nope... not that I had or have knowledge of.

[Dope2survive]

Amazing insight dope2survive.

 

Your conclusion is the best:

 

"Will I do it again? No I wont. Why not? I have put it behind me and moved forward. i wanted to start riding my bike again and see if i enjoy it like back when I was a kid again, and i love getting on the bike and enjoy quiet time."

 

Seeing my sons enjoyment while riding their bikes, puts a smile on my face.

It's great to jump on your bike, shift a few gears down, and just enjoy riding like it's your 1st time again.

I just got goosebumps when I read this, you are 100% spot on! Im investing time in my kids.

[Dope2survive]

Interesting read there Dope2survive ...

 

Were you riding road or mtb? or both?

 

---

 

My ballie would be able to agree with you regarding the bit about not being able to keep up with the bunch etc ... when he raced semi-pro road in Belgium when he was a Senior back in the 60's or so - he came from SA with a number of track and road National Titles and records ... got there and didnt even finish a race for like 2 months ... 

 

Eventually he got to finishing in the bunch but that was the best he could do - so he asked his manager what he was doing wrong ... and his manager said - "just take these" ... they were amphetamine if i recall ... so he took them - felt INSANE ... and did well ..

 

but the aftershock feeling from the drugs was too much for him so he stopped and came home a month or so later ... he said that even the juniors were on it ... and when the police (Gendarmerie) rocked up the riders just threw stuff out their pockets onto the floor and it looked like confetti ... So HECTIC ...

 

Its such a pity it is so rife in our sport ... 

This is also true. When i started it was in the 90's. Not really MTB back then...

[Dope2survive]

It is so funny that since I have made the post I have had a number of "change password" emails. I guess someone is trying to hack me or something... 

[Long Wheel Base]

Am I proud? I am kind of proud of the results, because I competed against people that also used stuff and it made it a level playing ground. It made me fast, it made me feel indestructible! 

Do I feel guilty? Not at all. Because no one was harmed and no financial losses was incurred by anyone.

 

 

Thanks for this and I'm sure it took a lot to share all that BUT you say you don't feel guilty because no one was harmed. What about the poor guys that didn't/don't dope that got/get spat out the back of the group every race after a few kms and had to ride the rest of the way alone or in a tiny bunch? I am one of those guys, I race vets and I train hard and yet some guys just destroy me without breaking a sweat. 

Anyway well done for coming clean and getting off the stuff, Hope this can get onto all the other guys you know of that are doping.

[Dope2survive]

 

Am I proud? I am kind of proud of the results, because I competed against people that also used stuff and it made it a level playing ground. It made me fast, it made me feel indestructible! 

Do I feel guilty? Not at all. Because no one was harmed and no financial losses was incurred by anyone.

 

 

Thanks for this and I'm sure it took a lot to share all that BUT you say you don't feel guilty because no one was harmed. What about the poor guys that didn't/don't dope that got/get spat out the back of the group every race after a few kms and had to ride the rest of the way alone or in a tiny bunch? I am one of those guys, I race vets and I train hard and yet some guys just destroy me without breaking a sweat. 

Anyway well done for coming clean and getting off the stuff, Hope this can get onto all the other guys you know of that are doping.

 

Im sorry. It is not fair. I am happy that you are able to observe and confirm what I mentioned.

[Edgar]

Cool story Hansel.

 

So you just confirmed what I thought regarding our esteemed PRO's and Age Groupers.

 

Have a read of these. 

 

http://crankpunk.com/2014/11/10/matt-cooke-interview-you-would-never-know-their-names-if-they-had-never-taken-drugs/

 

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/sports/youre-wrong-cathal-kelly-it-is-about-being-clean/article21512034/?service=mobile

 

So here is the counter to you. 

 

I raced at a international level from the age of 16 and had the dream of going to the Olympics. Did the training, worked my arse off and got tired. Trained harder. Coach (Hungarian) pushed me harder, I eventually (coincidentally all my team mates) got so fatigued and my performance dropped. Coach presented us with the opportunity to get some assistance while at our overseas training camp. I made the decision not to, and effectively ended my chances of actually making the the Olympic dream. Subsequently one of my team mates was caught, and others (internationals) have been caught.

 

Do I regret my decision. NEVER!!! 

Did I need to dope to get the Olympic dream. Definitely. In my chosen discipline I would have needed to dope.

Did people of similar ability to me get their dream due to doping? Yes.

 

As a doper.

 

You CHOOSE to lie, steal and act in a fraudulent manner. You hide behind, "it is okay everybody was doing it". 

 

Well, everybody was not doing it. You just don't know who they are, you never heard their names and they never got to be sponsored pro's. Those are the guys that weren't doping. they were the people that choose not to dope. To do it clean, the hard way. 

 

Well done, you choose to now be clean. Well your previous indiscretions will benefit you for a long time, you will always be able to train harder as the beneficial effects of PED use working long after is well documented. Should you be allowed to compete now. NO. Neither should Lance, Levi, Alberto, Clarke, George etc

 

Go ahead enjoy your riding and training, please don't do it around me.

 

Your decision puzzles me though. Why not go ahead and work together with the authorities and make a real difference? That I can respect. 

 

Thanks anyway for your veiled truth, it is nice to know it really does happen. I do appreciate that part of your confession. 

 

 

 

 

[Squier]

We were never tested, not ever...

Obviously! We all know SAIDS only tests back markers.

[rouxtjie]

Agree with Edgar...nice story and breakdown. Doesn't mean you didn't lie and cheat...end van prent and thus shouldn't be proud of any of your results.

[Tiny K]

Thanks for sharing Dope2Survive 

 

I must say, due to my late start in cycling I have toyed with the idea once or twice (after reading a test study on Testosterone and the lasting effects even after stopping), but then realise that it's just a sport for me - not a means of living. I love riding my bike and pushing myself to the limit, then take a chilled ride with my wife and enjoy the scenery.

 

I do hope that this information is used in a positive way and not a 'dictionary' for how to dope and what to ask for.

 

My dad rode quite competitively in Durban until the mid 90's and trained day in, day out but got to the point which he couldn't progress any further but wasn't getting the race results... he stopped but never said why - I am guessing the drugs were so rife that he didn't have a chance of decent results riding clean.