For those of you taking Testosterone supplements for 'LOW T'

Actually getting a TUE for testosterone is rare. Antidoping rules apply to everyone who signs up for any sanctioned event...

While there are legit medical cases that are denied a TUE, the use of T by anti aging docs

http://mobile.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/are-testosterone...

The whole "Low T" industry is a brilliant money-making venture...but I can't figure out who's profiting the most...is it:
A) the ever willing to help humanity pharmaceutical companies,
or
B) the middle-aged actors and actresses who have hit their limits on all the tv commercials for erection pills?

It just seems to me the "Low T" stuff proves nothing in life is free. Ya want the benefits? Here are the risks.

Fred, am I crazy to think there are lots of folks out there taking this stuff who probably don't need to take this stuff? It seems to me, the product's probably great for someone who has lost a testicle, or has malfunctioning testicles...but is that really common? Do testosterone rates fluctuate? When they're tested (I'd assume it's a blood test) what ranges do they peg as "normal" or "lacking?" Do they have age range norms as well?

A good book on the topic of regular age-group athletes and testosterone supplementation is "The Doper Next Door", by Andrew Tilin.

The answer to your question is no.

How are they finding out of this type of supplement addition? It is not legal in USAT and those admitting to such doping need to face suspensions.

Then they can obtain a TUE, take a break from competition if they are able to come off of the scrip or not compete anymore.

I seriously don't get why people do this.

Why is placement number in a race the goal at any cost? Don't people get satisfaction simply by improving as athletes?

Although I also don't get all of the $$ people spend on their bikes in the name of buying speed.

Can I add to the list of 'this". I read about this stuff, people knowingly cutting the route short and any myriad of ways to cheat and I have to wonder what's the point? Even if you are a pro and are doing it for the money, that's a poor reason to sell your integrity.

I took up this sport for a lot of reason; to have fun, to get healthy, to see what I could get out of this old body and to compete against myself. Don't get me wrong, I love to compete and I love to win but I have to do it honestly.

My grandfather taught me something when I was very young. There is only one thing in life you have absolute control of, your integrity. You can sell it or you can give it away, but nobody can take it from you.

If that makes me an old fart who is out of touch with reality, so be it. But at 6:30 tomorrow morning I will be back out on my bike because what ever I achieve I want to earn. Thankfully I think this is true of the vast majority of triathletes.

I suspect average Joe doesn't take T to win his AG. He takes it to feel/look better and in doing so gets an unfair advantage.

I do know someone who takes it. He is not an athlete. He takes it "feel younger". The marketing machine has convinced people this is the case. If he did compete, moving up a few ranks in his AG is probably an additional benefit.

There are a lot of people in the US taking T as a "fountain of youth" drug. In Canada we don't see it on TV, advertisemensts....although I am sure it is being used. For example T level testing is not covered by our health care system

I see guys my age getting face lifts and all other kind of things to not accept aging. It's unfortunate.

I'll fall short of calling it stupid, because it's their decision, their health, their beliefs and to call someone stupid is just that.

I only know of 1 person that admitted that he used drugs to improve his performance, however I believe there is a large population of triathletes using something. Nothing to back it up, just knowing the mind set of a lot of type A personalities that are out doing tris.

I'm a new guy here but unfortunately I have experience with low testosterone due to testicular cancer. I lost lefty in February of 2012 and recovered well following surgery. My pathology report was good so I chose not to get radiation or chemo. (Doing "nothing" was a tough decision but *for me* was the right decision.) Anyhow, that year I did some running and actually felt pretty good. That was until the next winter... Call it seasonal disorder, depression or whatever but I was in a deep, deep, valley emotionally. My next check-up (I was getting blood work, ct scans, etc. every 3 months) I asked for T-level to be checked and it was very low - somewhere around 100. I think below 300 is considered low. I was on a mission to get a prescription just knowing this will fix me.

Well I eventually got my prescription - the brand you apply under your arm - and boy was I confident this was going to make me feel better... I'll cut to the chase and say I did not last two months on it. After 2-3 week on it my heart-rate seemed perpetually elevated, I had Niagara Falls coming from each of my pits, and had real difficulty sleeping. Not to mention that my T-levels were all over the place. I had blood work come back as with T levels over 1600 (YES, I followed the directions to a "t").

So for me this experiment was done.

I am probably like most 43-year-old guys who are working towards their 1st tri. Not in great shape (yet!) but not in horrible shape either. I'm now getting active and getting outside as my prescription for feeling better. So far so good. :-) T is higher, outlook is better, and I'm thankful that God has given me health and strength to start and so far maintain my training routine. I have about six weeks to go before my 1st tri and can say that I'm really pumped! The group I am training with did the Cazenovia, NY bike and run course and my times for each were exactly what I was hoping for during the sprint.

Since I'm still rambling on here, let me ask a question... The bike course was 14 miles and according to my GPS watch had about 750 feet elevation gain. With two quick stops to fix my chain, which came off my front sprocket, I finished in 48:38. Now I don't yet have clipless pedals and assuming I get some before this race, is it reasonable to knock off a minute or two off this time if everything else is still the same? For giggles, here's a map of the course > http://connect.garmin.com/activity/530133060

Congratulations on beating cancer.

If you don't have to stop and fix your chain, that is certainly worth some time. An adjustment and a chain stopper could help. Yes, the pedals will also help.

Are the T levels coming back naturally ?
There is a well known, very fast, ex poster who says his T levels have naturally gone up through some strength excercising. Do you do anything special ?

I suspect there are guys that are doing it, not to win or move up in their AG ranks, but because they think it benefits their health.

There was a guy, the head of sales of a race wheel company. He was used for a full page ad for a T supplemetation clinic. He didn't even know it was illegal. He was interviewed, said how much better he felt....bla bla bla....and when he found out it was illegal, retracted. It was quite funny. The thread is still on ST.

There are guys at the pointy edge trying to get an unfair advantage. But there are BOP guys taking it, not to be FOP but because they think it will benefit their well being. Hopefully articles like the one Fred published will educate them.

Didn't mean to imply everyone was doing it, but if they tested an everyone in an entire event(never happen) and 20% came back positive I would not be surprised.

Yes, they have rebounded on their own. I'm right back to where I was just before surgery (low 300s). Everybody is different and the research on this sucks. I spent a LOT of time trying to understand what is low, vs. normal vs. optimal. IMHO nobody really knows. Feeling good is what matters now. I get my numbers checked during my regularly scheduled visits because if they are too low I do believe a real long-term risk is osteoporosis.

Now time for the Public Service Announcement - guys check your guys!

If something (anything) changes go see the Dr. I know getting felt-up by some DR. is the LAST thing we want to do, but if TC gets caught early you'll be in much better shape. TC is considered a "germ cell" cancer and is VERY curable by surgery. If you had to spin the wheel of cancer, this is what you would want to get... However, if/when it spreads it almost always goes to the lymph nodes and THAT surgery and related adjuvant therapies SUCK. (google RPLND surgery) Sorry guys, fear is actually one of the best motivators for proper care. So check 'em. We have two for a reason!

Triathlon aside, there is a very sizeable chunk of the male population on "low T" meds. At one point at least three guys in my office (of about 20 males) were on it in some form or another.

A significant chunk of AG triathletes may be on it for other reasons and not have a clue that its technically illegal for triathlon.