Cortisol Controversy in Cycling

[Sam]

An interesting debate is brewing within the cycling community around doping tests for cortisol.   The criticism of a one point cortisol test to determine if a athlete was using cortisone as a PED is getting some push back from pro teams.   Of note is in almost all of these cases the athletes link their asthma medications as the root cause of low cortisol.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mpcc-cortisol-testing-will-not-change-despite-lottonl-jumbos-withdrawal

[PeakT]

An interesting debate is brewing within the cycling community around doping tests for cortisol.   The criticism of a one point cortisol test to determine if a athlete was using cortisone as a PED is getting some push back from pro teams.   Of note is in almost all of these cases the athletes link their asthma medications as the root cause of low cortisol.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mpcc-cortisol-testing-will-not-change-despite-lottonl-jumbos-withdrawal

Wait.  I don't get it.  So why would a pro cyclist have low cortisol?  Seriously, cuzz of asthma medication or am I missing soething?

[Sam]

They use hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and help them train harder.   This suppresses natural production.

Some asthma medications are corticosteroids which would have the same effect.

[PeakT]

They use hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and help them train harder.   This suppresses natural production.

Some asthma medications are corticosteroids which would have the same effect.

Good lord.  I cannot believe they would take HC.  Madness.  I am actually about to do a page on that.  Dr. Scally has a great thread on the subject.  You'll see shortly...Unbelievable.  I love sports but stuff like this is just such a turn off - so anti-health.

[Cronos]

They use hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation and help them train harder.   This suppresses natural production.

Some asthma medications are corticosteroids which would have the same effect.

Good lord.  I cannot believe they would take HC.  Madness.  I am actually about to do a page on that.  Dr. Scally has a great thread on the subject.  You'll see shortly...Unbelievable.  I love sports but stuff like this is just such a turn off - so anti-health.

All sports are like this unfortunately... When this much money is often at stake people are going to do anything and everything they can for that extra sec, extra strength, size ect. Not healthy but they're not exactly after health... They're after winning. Until we find a way to eliminate all doping it won't go away. Pretty soon it'll be gene doping for the edge...

[Sam]

I say let them dope.   What the hell right we've basically given up all sense of decorum in our society so why not just let people do what they want if they aren't directly physically/hurting others.

[Cronos]

I say let them dope.   What the hell right we've basically given up all sense of decorum in our society so why not just let people do what they want if they aren't directly physically/hurting others.

Well I've said that to many people and they always say that's cheating. Most people are naive to the fact that 99% of the people at the professional level of any sport are doping in some way... Make it legal in sports for people at the pro level to dope and it levels the playing field completely. Secondly even at that level it still comes down to genetics and work

[explorer]

Well I've said that to many people and they always say that's cheating. Most people are naive to the fact that 99% of the people at the professional level of any sport are doping in some way... Make it legal in sports for people at the pro level to dope and it levels the playing field completely. Secondly even at that level it still comes down to genetics and work

I read that T3 (thyroid) falls after intense exercise... and magnesium prevents the fall. Magnesium, undetectable dope?

[PeakT]

I say let them dope.   What the hell right we've basically given up all sense of decorum in our society so why not just let people do what they want if they aren't directly physically/hurting others.

I understand your sentiment.  Here's the problem though:

I don't want to watch it if they dope - pure and simple.  Do you know what those guys go thru when they take EPO.  They have to have a trainer in their room with them to make sure that they don't die in the night.  They could just suddenly die and someone has to monitor them.  Same thing with this HC. 

So, philosophically, I agree with you for some of the same reason that I believe marijuana should be legalized.  But I don't want to smoke marijuana and I don't want to watch the sport if that's what it's all about.  I rarely watch the NFL for the same reason:  the guys are all literally giving themselves brain damage.  It's just not fun to watch once you know that...

My two cents btw...

[kcrunner]

I think the biggest problem in cycling is they have the Grand Tours so damn difficult anymore that even the typical elite cyclist has to dope to compete.    They cover over 3000 kilometers over the course of 3 weeks or so, racing several hours a day, at a caloric expenditure rate of better than 1000 net calories burned per hour, pegging their heart rate at 200 bpm or more day after day, have a power output averaging over 300 watts with sustained peaks well over 400 watts...... They are asked to do what the human body really isn't capable of doing for extended periods of time and then we wonder why they are doping.   

[PeakT]

I think the biggest problem in cycling is they have the Grand Tours so damn difficult anymore that even the typical elite cyclist has to dope to compete.    They cover over 3000 kilometers over the course of 3 weeks or so, racing several hours a day, at a caloric expenditure rate of better than 1000 net calories burned per hour, pegging their heart rate at 200 bpm or more day after day, have a power output averaging over 300 watts with sustained peaks well over 400 watts...... They are asked to do what the human body really isn't capable of doing for extended periods of time and then we wonder why they are doping.

Wow.  That does seem insane...