In the last few weeks I’ve had 3 people tell me they have testosterone pellets under their skin given by their naturopath.
One has an autoimmune disease and this is one of the treatments, and the other two are women who are low normal for T in their late 40’s. I know of 2 other women who have used them in the past (not sure about now) and are top 10 Ironman age group finishers. All are very nice people and say they feel so much better on these pellets and they don’t want to podium or qualify for worlds.
I don’t want to take away their health or happiness but what do you do with this information? Lock it away and be thankful they aren’t in your age group? I like them all and this isn’t a judgement on their character. I appreciate they feel healthier on these pellets, but to the best of my knowledge you can’t race while using testosterone pellets. Also, if these are the next best thing why don’t medical doctors prescribe them?
In the last few weeks I’ve had 3 people tell me they have testosterone pellets under their skin given by their naturopath.
One has an autoimmune disease and this is one of the treatments, and the other two are women who are low normal for T in their late 40’s. I know of 2 other women who have used them in the past (not sure about now) and are top 10 Ironman age group finishers. All are very nice people and say they feel so much better on these pellets and they don’t want to podium or qualify for worlds.
I don’t want to take away their health or happiness but what do you do with this information? Lock it away and be thankful they aren’t in your age group? I like them all and this isn’t a judgement on their character. I appreciate they feel healthier on these pellets, but to the best of my knowledge you can’t race while using testosterone pellets. Also, if these are the next best thing why don’t medical doctors prescribe them?
Regardless of when they took them that doesn’t mean they haven’t cheated. Enhancements to fitness and endurance have a lasting effect. You can’t just take a substance that it is banned inside competition and compete clean. Well you can, but you are still cheating. Maybe they won’t get an OOC test but that doesn’t excuse their behavior.
So what would you do?? I’m wondering how common this is? I agree 100%. I told them it’s illegal. They all said “I am not looking to podium”. Then what?
In the last few weeks I’ve had 3 people tell me they have testosterone pellets under their skin given by their naturopath.
One has an autoimmune disease and this is one of the treatments, and the other two are women who are low normal for T in their late 40’s. I know of 2 other women who have used them in the past (not sure about now) and are top 10 Ironman age group finishers. All are very nice people and say they feel so much better on these pellets and they don’t want to podium or qualify for worlds.
I don’t want to take away their health or happiness but what do you do with this information? Lock it away and be thankful they aren’t in your age group? I like them all and this isn’t a judgement on their character. I appreciate they feel healthier on these pellets, but to the best of my knowledge you can’t race while using testosterone pellets. Also, if these are the next best thing why don’t medical doctors prescribe them?
Regardless of when they took them that doesn’t me they haven’t cheated. Enhancements to fitness and endurance have a last effect. You can’t just take a substance that it is banned inside competition and compete clean. Well you can, but you are still cheating. Maybe they won’t get an OOC test but that doesn’t excuse their behavior.
The Endocrine Society advises against the use of testosterone therapy in healthy women. Testosterone pellets ruined my nephews life and put my partners kids through college. I keep a copy of this in every exam room. I’ll just leave it at that.
Thank you for the article. This makes me think the idea of a “recreational athlete category” is warranted. These are good people who mean no harm and don’t understand how they are breaking the rules. (Or don’t want to understand because they feel better with the pellets.) I’m going to share the article with a few but I suspect they will dismiss it.
The Endocrine Society advises against the use of testosterone therapy in healthy women. Testosterone pellets ruined my nephews life and put my partners kids through college. I keep a copy of this in every exam room. I’ll just leave it at that.
Under the rules, it’s very simple… they are free to take whatever therapy they want, they just can’t race. And honestly, if they do, and they truly ‘don’t care’ about their placing, they should have themselves removed from the results. If it makes them feel great and they’d rather continue the therapy than race, that’s the choice they need to make.
You should go here: https://www.usada.org/athletes/playclean/
Report them. Give as many details as possible.
USADA may investigate. I know USADA has punted at least 1x on someone using T pellets even when given documentation such as a FB post, pics of them being implanted etc, doc they used.
Contact USAT triathlon and let them know, although they really don’t care about AG doping.
We can each only do our part to help sport stay clean
What Desert Dude said in regards to protocol. I guess these women may not be as much of a concern to some, but the top 10 Ironman age-group finishers you mentioned as well would surely piss off a lot more people.
So what would you do?? I’m wondering how common this is? I agree 100%. I told them it’s illegal. They all said “I am not looking to podium”. Then what?
What would I do? I sure wouldn’t tell them it’s illegal - it’s almost certainly not.
It’s exogenous, so it’s** doping**. Regardless of their aspirations.
Top 10 AG in an Ironman is far from MOP, let alone BOP! So I can’t understand anyone feeling they should get a ‘pass’.
The op posted that the top 10 AG finishers used it in the past but she doesn’t know if they are using it now. So assuming we aren’t hypothesizing on someone’s potential use when we have no clue, how is this an issue? Unless you are saying that a person who uses a banned substance should be stricken for life?
report them to the tip line if they are actively racing any triathlons, bike races, running or track and field, or Masters swim events.
In the last few weeks I’ve had 3 people tell me they have testosterone pellets under their skin given by their naturopath.
One has an autoimmune disease and this is one of the treatments, and the other two are women who are low normal for T in their late 40’s. I know of 2 other women who have used them in the past (not sure about now) and are top 10 Ironman age group finishers. All are very nice people and say they feel so much better on these pellets and they don’t want to podium or qualify for worlds.
I don’t want to take away their health or happiness but what do you do with this information? Lock it away and be thankful they aren’t in your age group? I like them all and this isn’t a judgement on their character. I appreciate they feel healthier on these pellets, but to the best of my knowledge you can’t race while using testosterone pellets. Also, if these are the next best thing why don’t medical doctors prescribe them?
I think this will be an issue that will be getting harder and harder to deal with. I am a 60 year old male. I have had two of three tests for testosterone because its so low. (49 and 45). I have no desire to take anything to boost it. I have no other symptoms. I am signed up for a 100 miler that my goal is 34 hours (36 hour cutoff)……If for some reason my Dr thinks I need to do some therepy, you really think I am going to go through all the hassle to get a TUE? Especially since temporary? I also have a 40k where I finished I think 98th out of 138.
My point is this, people in this situation will not be going through all the hassle to get a tue., So what do you do with them? I agree its technically doping. I agree it should not be someonethats on the podium. But this issue is going to be coming up more and more……………………again, I plan on not taking anything in my case. But I could care less if someone else did.
I think this will be an issue that will be getting harder and harder to deal with. I am a 60 year old male. I have had two of three tests for testosterone because its so low. (49 and 45). I have no desire to take anything to boost it. I have no other symptoms. I am signed up for a 100 miler that my goal is 34 hours (36 hour cutoff)……If for some reason my Dr thinks I need to do some therepy, you really think I am going to go through all the hassle to get a TUE? Especially since temporary? I also have a 40k where I finished I think 98th out of 138.
My point is this, people in this situation will not be going through all the hassle to get a tue., So what do you do with them? I agree its technically doping. I agree it should not be someonethats on the podium. But this issue is going to be coming up more and more……………………again, I plan on not taking anything in my case. But I could care less if someone else did.
+1 Olympic level controls are not realistic for everyday people. I’m not advocating a free-for-all system but the level of restriction now will lead to people bending the rules. It’s easy to say that they are all dopers but the actual answer is much more nuanced as most seek no true athletic advantage.
