Watch Out Masters Dopers!
It looks like the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is taking a closer look at masters athletes, having suspended nine already in 2011.
The Associated Press has a story on the USADA’s new focus on masters athletes. As a masters athlete myself, I am personally pleased to see this new scrutiny of my fellow competitors.
Obviously, there are other opinions. Some athletes feel that it doesn’t matter what masters athletes do because there isn’t any money in masters athletics.
All the same, if I’m out there busting my butt in the hunt for an age group placing, I’d like to assume the other guys I’m racing against are all playing from the same rule book.
Since I’m not above naming names, I took a peek at the USADA’s press releases for 2011 and extracted the following list of master track and field athletes who were sanctioned for some doping violation.
- Frederic Kieser of Cleveland, OH, 40 (Stimulant)
- Byron Duhon, of Elk Grove, CA, 53 (Refusal)
- Kathy Jager of Glendale, AZ, 68, (Anabolic agent)
- Stephen Craig Shumaker of Glenmoore, PA, 63 (Steroid)
- Amy Dodson, Sahurita, AZ, 48, (Oxilofrine, a stimulant)
One of the major problems in policing masters athletes is that most of us are taking something. There is a process for exempting the use of some legitimate medications, but athletes need to follow the process.
Additionally, there continues to be the problem of over the counter supplements and medications. In a recent Athlete Advisory on Methylhexaneamine and Dietary Supplements, the USADA says:
The ongoing problem of dietary supplement mislabeling continues to create a risky environment for athletes. Unfortunately, due to the current permissive regulations governing the supplement industry, USADA cannot give guarantees to athletes regarding which products are safe and free from contamination.
In other words, you’re on your own with supplements.
All in all, even with its challenges, our sport is helped by of increased scrutiny.
John, Glad to see the heightened awareness (and penalties) for those masters athletes found to be using prohibited agents. I, too, like to assume that fellow competitors are competing on a level-playing field.
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