**So you’re saying that b/c he is competing against a group of athletes who are doping - he is guilty by association? AAAGGGHH!!! **
No, not by association, but by the likelyhood of experience.
Even at the level of sports I played at, quite a few used PED’s (Performance Enhancing Drugs). A drug using athlete will demolish a non-drug user, even if the drug-free guy is slightly “better” genetically.
The biggest advantage of PED’s is they repair muscle faster allowing more intense training. The more “intense” training sessions you have (and can recover from), the better athlete you’ll be. Drug free folks have to regulate intensity, plan for recovery, etc. Now, look at your statement about Lance being 100% driven, training like a mad fool. Many PED using bikers can’t handle that. Imagine how good you’d be if you could “go like hell” everyday and still recover.
I know folks use (or have used) and sell (or sold) PED’s. It is not uncommon.
Testing clean does not mean “doesn’t use PED’s”. Most folks that use PED’s look at those that get caught (test +) as being “retards”. It’s no secret in high level sports that test-beating is way ahead of testing. Thus, the constant challenge of finding and adding new substances to the banned list. Again, I don’t want to say that every high-level athlete is using steroids or other PED. Let me explain it like this … many bodybuilders test “clean”. Yeah a guy that’s 5’10 270 pounds at 4% BF tests clean, Nuff said.
Here’s the “X-Factor” … growth hormone. There’s no test for it, b/c your body makes it on its own. Does everythng from add muscle to repair bones to improve eyesight. I love Lance Armstrong, but if he didn’t use growth hormone (and other stuff) to beat cancer and return to supremecy as fast as he did, I would be stunned. IMO, GH is baseball greatest problem. Guys going from “doubles hitters” to “sluggers” in a short time at an advanced part of their career. IMO, GH will become a very normal thing in 20+ years. Guys entering their 50’s will take GH, retain muscle mass, feel younger, maintain good eyesight, etc. It will become like “takin vitamins” (Right now it’s still expensive)
I’m saying based on what I know from other sports, Olympics, track, footbal, baseball, etc … and looking at his history … and what is going on the the sport … It is very unlikely Lance doesn’t use something. To have everyone else using drugs except the guy that wins the big races and trains the hardest would be rare.
Again, saying he uses something is not saying he doesn’t outwork, outdedicate, outgenetic everyone else. But, when it comes to drugs and sports, if one person is using … everyone else better also. It’s why sports like powerlifting, etc have a drug-free division and an
untested" division.
Yes, drugs make that much of a difference … which is why athletes go to the lengths they do, in order to use them. They know, they’ll be caught, suspended, maybe even banned, have their prize stripped away … but the benefit is so great, that in their mind, it’s worth the risk. many high level athletes would rather die than lose, as was indicated in a poll conducted some years ago.
It is possible to use PED’s and still be a “good guy”. some would question your morals, most definately.
Side Note — I would not be surprised if triathloning has the same “secret” (i.e. problem) … even at the local level at a reduced degree.
I would love to believe that Armstrong is simply the “greatest genetic freak and cycling animal ever to grace the face of Earth”. That’s what i would like to believe if I wasn’t tainted with the kowledge of drug usage among the other sports. Strength sports have their drugs. Endurance sports have their drugs.