Bodybuilding and TRT

[BendtheBar]

Many natural federations use polygraph tests for all the competitors and drug screens for the winners. Obviously, both methods use different standards. I would say that a drug screen is easier to "beat" because a competitor could run a cycle, get off, retain some of the benefits, and still appear normal on the test. (I'm not talking about beating a drug test in the sense that a competitor still has some form of AAS in his system, and he finds a way to cheat.)

But a polygraph...well, if you've used...good luck beating it.

So my question relates to TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy). As most of us know, low testosterone leads to a battery of health issues. And most who take TRT are not doing so looking for - nor receiving muscle/strength gains. The amounts they take are miniscule compared to a bodybuilding cycle, and generally TRT patients at these levels scrape to achieve what would be considered an average testosterone level for a healthy male.

But, if an aging bodybuilder uses TRT for health, knowing that it is a steroid, most likely they will flunk the polygraph.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you consider TRT cheating? Should TRT patients simply compete in non-tested feds? Should TRT patients be allowed to compete in tested feds?

[RickB]

It's my opinion that there are many that cheat the natural competitions. I saw it at Matt's competition and there was an Asian guy that was known to compete in untested comps. There were a couple others that just looked "un-natural" in other weight classes.

But this competition stated that you had to be 7yrs removed from any AAS. I wonder how many were?

Matt is the only one I was 100% positive about. I'm sure there were others too, but many can beat the poly and the piss test.

Do I think TRT is cheating? There's a huge gray area imo about that. The normal range according to this Doctor can be 250-800, but for this Doctor it can be 300-950. Some are blessed with more naturally than a recreational PH user. Who knows if it's fair or cheating with TRT. Maybe instead of age/weight classes, then need to go by test level classes LOL!

Did I ramble enough?

[nighttrain]

^^^ i agree rick.......

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by RickB

It's my opinion that there are many that cheat the natural competitions. I saw it at Matt's competition and there was an Asian guy that was known to compete in untested comps. There were a couple others that just looked "un-natural" in other weight classes.

But this competition stated that you had to be 7yrs removed from any AAS. I wonder how many were?

Matt is the only one I was 100% positive about. I'm sure there were others too, but many can beat the poly and the piss test.

Do I think TRT is cheating? There's a huge gray area imo about that. The normal range according to this Doctor can be 250-800, but for this Doctor it can be 300-950. Some are blessed with more naturally than a recreational PH user. Who knows if it's fair or cheating with TRT. Maybe instead of age/weight classes, then need to go by test level classes LOL!

Did I ramble enough?

Ramble on.

I've been interviewing natty federation promoters this last month, and have yet to ask this question. I think I should.

My personal opinion is that even though TRT at "normal levels" (not talking all the guys who use it for muscle and strength - and not condemning them for doing so) provides no real strength and size gains, TRT patients shouldn't compete in natty feds. Rules are rules.

Personally, I wouldn't want to risk a ban by failing a polygraph - and if you believe there is a risk, then you shouldn't compete in that fed.

As far as cheating, I think it's a lot easier to cheat the system then many believe.

[Trevor Lane]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

Ramble on.

I've been interviewing natty federation promoters this last month, and have yet to ask this question. I think I should.

My personal opinion is that even though TRT at "normal levels" (not talking all the guys who use it for muscle and strength - and not condemning them for doing so) provides no real strength and size gains, TRT patients shouldn't compete in natty feds. Rules are rules.

Personally, I wouldn't want to risk a ban by failing a polygraph - and if you believe there is a risk, then you shouldn't compete in that fed.

As far as cheating, I think it's a lot easier to cheat the system then many believe.

I would say that a person who really believes that what they are taking is OK would pass a poly for something like this. Now if they win and are then tested, they would have a whole new set of problems. Poly's really test a persons honesty in terms of their own beliefs, so it would depend on the questions asked and the subjects beliefs about their actions.

[ehubbard]

If you are competing in a tested fed and are on TRT, you are violating the spirit of the rules, even if there is an exemption for hormone replacement.

Additionally to that, it doesn't matter whether you suspect or know that other people are using TRT in a tested fed, because you can only control your own actions. Don't use other people's actions to steer your own moral compass.

[onetiredkris]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

My personal opinion is that even though TRT at "normal levels" (not talking all the guys who use it for muscle and strength - and not condemning them for doing so) provides no real strength and size gains, TRT patients shouldn't compete in natty feds. Rules are rules.

I don't know about all that. I dont see how a man with near zero test won't lift more after bringing his levels back up to normal, but yeah he wont be lifting more compared to a different man of equal test levels.

I say at equal numbers test is test, endo or exo. But still trt is a definite gray area.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by onetiredkris

I don't know about all that. I dont see how a man with near zero test won't lift more after bringing his levels back up to normal, but yeah he wont be lifting more compared to a different man of equal test levels.

I say at equal numbers test is test, endo or exo. But still trt is a definite gray area.

Local doctors around here put you on 25 mgs of test per week to a max of 200 mgs per month (one injection).