old al wrote:Testosterone Patches are readily available to help people with low levels that would benefit from a testosterone boost. I am 68 and I race in the local Masters club races. I regularly race against riders in their 70's. I don't use them but if one of the other riders of my vintage was using them for reasons other than boosting performance then I would accept that no problem even if as a side benefit it did boost their performance. At this level of racing there is no drug testing.
I am sure their are plenty of people using so called "performance enhancing drugs" for reasons totally unconnected with performance in the sporting field. I am not a doctor and it would be interesting to know just how many "performance enhancing drugs are used for other reasons. Anybody got any idea?
Al.
If you have a medical reason to use a prohibited substance, and intend to race in sanctioned events covered by the WADA code, then get a TUE. You signed a licence agreeing to be bound by the rules, including doping rules. The TUE process is clearly outlined on the ASADA website.
If your health is such that you need prohibited substance(s) and cannot get a TUE, I would suggest that perhaps you should not be racing.
Otherwise, it's doping. End of.
BTW - there is testing of masters riders. Just not all that often.