Folks using testosterone pathches, asthma inhallers, … Cheating?

[vvill]

I guess it’s cheating in some cases (obviously there are plenty of asthmatics who do need a inhaler handy though), and yeah wouldn’t be surprised if it is grossly abused at higher levels of sports. Personally I’m not competitive enough to care – in most “races” I’m in, I feel like I’m racing myself anyway.

[PotomacCyclist]

@Raymo853 121159 wrote:

We could really go off on a tangent and talk about the rampant anabolic steroid abuse in our Nation’s police forces. I assume many of the abuses/shootings can be partially attributed to roid rage.

I hadn’t thought about that, but it makes sense. Excessive stimulant use is another problem among certain groups. That can also cause extreme behavior.

[dplasters]

I see inhaler use as a playing field equalizer. Similar to the concept of Oscar Pistorius. Without the baggage that now brings along. Ruling bodies have set a limit to the inhaler usage and I take them at face value that it creates a generally even field. Does it open the door for possible abuse? It does, but some people have pointed out that it doesn’t do much for people who don’t suffer from asthma so could be pointless.

PED use is probably more common that people think. Even in high-school I was well aware of several athletes on various teams that used.

Until I have a reason to believe otherwise, I try to assume the best in people. Using an inhaler doesn’t make you a cheater. Abusing it does. Its a hard line to draw and prove. Life is complicated.

[rcannon100]

I use an inhaler. It helps me not die.

It pumps me up like Hans and Franz. And when I use it while racing, it lets me hunt down my prey like a turkey-vulture swooping down to crush puny cyclists people. Hear me now and believe me later…. my inhaler gives me super powers… like breathing…. and laser beams that come out my nostrils blowing out tires of cry baby competitors.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; if you have a problem with asthmatics using inhalers to participate in races that dont count for anything ~ you are a girly-man.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@rcannon100 121209 wrote:

you are a girly-man.

You say that as if it’s a bad thing…

[Anonymous]

The real answer is this: If I do/use [thing] and you don’t, that just means that I’m more dedicated than you are. Totally fair advantage. If you do/use [thing] and I don’t, then [thing] clearly provides an unfair advantage and is totally cheating.

[Raymo853]

@rcannon100 121209 wrote:

I use an inhaler. It helps me not die.

It pumps me up like Hans and Franz. And when I use it while racing, it lets me hunt down my prey like a turkey-vulture swooping down to crush puny cyclists people. Hear me now and believe me later…. my inhaler gives me super powers… like breathing…. and laser beams that come out my nostrils blowing out tires of cry baby competitors.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; if you have a problem with asthmatics using inhalers to participate in races that dont count for anything ~ you are a girly-man.

And I have never said those with real asthma should not be using, it is all those with fake diagnosis that I have a problem with.

[mstone]

1) it’s still not clear that there are fake asthma diagnoses

2) it’s still not clear that puffing on an inhaler alters the performance of someone with healthy lungs (that’s why the sports bodies don’t bother making people do paperwork on it).

There are probably people that think their lucky rabbits foot helps their performance, and again there isn’t anyone wasting their time being angry about the possibility of racers carrying those.

[Author]

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