Consensus Statement on Age of Initiation of Anabolic Use

[Zyglamail]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ulter:
I think the difference there Zyg is that the model can still get work if he's good looking, in shape and doesn't use AS but uses cutting drugs. Yes he can look a little better and maybe get more work with extra muscle but to me that's augmentation.
The Athlete however, in most instances, has no chance without it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I have to admit there is more leverage when argueing sports over looks, but lets face it, times are changing. Every sport out there seems to really be cracking down on AAS and a level playing field may be in the near future....not that Im for that. I am prochoice and if someone wants plastic surgury, to use AAS, smoke till they get cancer or what have you thats an individuals right.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
"Let's face it, what we all do, everytime we're planning and completing a cycle, is acquire (principally through underground sources) and self-administer (without medical supervision) a program of Schedule III drugs with pretty powerful effects on the endocrine system."


B, I knew you were going to get your mantra in there somewhere but that sentence is too strong.

"That calls for more social and psychological maturity than just firing up some reefer."

I wouldn't know about that.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> While ideally I think it "should" call for more social and physiological maturity, but that doesnt mean it does. We see examples every day that and isnt the case....hell, half the juicers seem to be pot heads too. They need it to sleep, deal with anxiety or what have you.

[archive_Bjaarki]

My-my, you've lived such a sheltered life, Ulter.

Okay, I'll make some changes in the objectionable statement.

Zyg, the other thing that's different between the prospective athlete and the prospective male model (and there are other occupational groups that use a lot of gear, like law enforcement, actors, bouncers, etc.) is that the prospective athlete is younger (he's 18, hoping for a scholarship to a Div I school), and so is more likely to get into anabolics before he's satisfied the experience-related recommendations in this CS. The model, the arborist, the bouncer, the cop is an older guy, older than that, anyway, and stands a better chance of having trained for a long time, and studied the issues.

I have to say, for the record, that IMO a prospective athlete who stands NO CHANCE of success without gear stands not much greater a chance with gear, and making a marginal athlete into a merely adequate one does not, in my view, justify too-early entrance into the anabolic underground. The kid who's a marginal athlete will say I'm wrong, and will talk about the scholarships and so on that he'll miss out on if he please-please doesn't get his paws on some sust, but I think that's mostly smoke; the young guy who's a candidate for a football or wrestling scholarship has a lot more going for him than an extra 30lbs of gear-created flesh. I wish Ironmaster were here, he would talk about this from extensive personal experience. Much earlier in the thread, someone (maybe Flash?) gave a good example of what kind of athletic promise justifies getting into gear before the gay/gal would otherwise be deemed "ready." I liked that post.

But, we'll keep in the CS the thing about athletes of exceptional promise constituting an exception of sorts. I also like 2GB's point about mentoring. That could go in Point #3.

I'll try to do a revision sometime in the next day or two, and run it by you guys one more time.

Bjaarki

[Zyglamail]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="**-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bjaarki:
My-my, you've lived such a sheltered life, Ulter.

Okay, I'll make some changes in the objectionable statement.

Zyg, the other thing that's different between the prospective athlete and the prospective male model (and there are other occupational groups that use a lot of gear, like law enforcement, actors, bouncers, etc.) is that the prospective athlete is younger (he's 18, hoping for a scholarship to a Div I school), and so is more likely to get into anabolics before he's satisfied the experience-related recommendations in this CS. The model, the arborist, the bouncer, the cop is an older guy, older than that, anyway, and stands a better chance of having trained for a long time, and studied the issues.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Yes, I totally understand and agree and I eluded to that on my post above that nailing down an age is dificult because the college athlete does not have time on their side. Its all comming together though and its no easy task.

[archive_Ulter]

live not lived

[archive_Ulter]

I think we lost our secretary.
B, Are you out there? Let's wrap this up bro.

[Curious George]

What a cool thread this is. I really can't add anything to it that hasn't already been said.

Again B, your posts are the most well written and thought provoking on here. You really are a treasure and I am glad you express your thoughts on the board. Thank you for being here.

Take Good Care,

Cg

[archive_Bjaarki]

REVISED DRAFT 11-17-02

Consensus Statement on Age of Initiation of Anabolic Use

Anabolic steroids promote strength gain, muscle synthesis, and increased metabolic capacity. Their responsible, moderate use improves athletic performance, cosmetic appearance, and perceived social opportunity and self-esteem. However, anabolics achieve their effects by perturbing the human endocrine system, a complex feedback mechanism of glands and organs that are, in healthy and youthful persons, in an exquisite state of natural balance. Compounds like anabolic steroids that alter this balance are appropriate for use only by mature, well-trained athletes who understand these drugs, their risks and their benefits. Except in the case of prospective users of clear promise for national or international ranking in a sport, realistically hopeful for the kinds of benefits such ranking confers, the following should be characteristic of anyone, of any age, prior to the addition of anabolic steroids to a training regime:


1. PHYSICAL MATURITY. Anabolics can, through either direct or indirect effects, cause premature closure of the epiphyseal plates (“growth plates”) at the end of bone, an irreversible effect that may result in permanently shorter stature than the athlete would otherwise achieve. Therefore, the athlete should have reached full physical stature and maturity of the skeleton before contemplating anabolic use. In most cases, full stature is not reached until the very late teens and, in many cases, development of both long skeletal bones and joint assemblies (hips and shoulders) continues into the early 20's, development of the larynx (“voicebox”) into the mid-20’s.


2. SIGNIFICANT MATURE MUSCULARITY. Anabolics have poor effect, or transitory effect, on athletes in mediocre condition; in addition, their tendency to boost muscle strength ahead of the strength of supporting tendons and ligaments can lead to debilitating injury in athletes without substantial prior training. Therefore, the athlete should have accumulated a significant amount of mature muscle mass and tendon strength through a dedicated program of resistance training prior to beginning anabolic use. Recognizing that there is substantial individual variability in training efficiency and effects, a minimum of 3 years, perhaps as many as 7, of dedicated weight training is required to achieve this necessary physical foundation, on which anabolics can be used safely and to best effect.


3. THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE. Anabolics are not a substitute for proper technique or applied knowledge of the basics of exercise physiology. Therefore, the athlete considering the use of anabolics should have a very thorough and detailed knowledge of lifting technique, dietary practice, recuperative processes, and hormonal and nonhormonal supplementation, and should if possible prepare for the use of anabolics under the guidance of a trusted mentor who has mastered these issues. In particular, the athlete should have an excellent understanding of the uses, effects, and risk profiles of anabolics, and should be thoroughly conversant with the kinds of ancillary agents that minimize side-effects and speed post-cycle recovery. Recognizing that there is substantial individual variability in the pace at which this knowledge is acquired, at least a year of arduous study and reading is necessary to understand anabolics and post-cycle recovery, and at least 4 years of practice is required to establish the requisite knowledge base of lifting technique, recuperation, and diet.


4. PSYCHOLOGICAL MATURITY. Anabolic steroids can have marked effect on mood and disposition, either during the cycle of active use, or its aftermath. Therefore, the athlete considering the use of anabolics should have the psychological health and maturity that will enable him or her to use anabolics with minimal social, psychological, and legal risk to both him/herself and his/her network of partners and collaborators. In addition, the athlete should be firm enough in purpose and balanced enough in approach to understand not only how and when to initiate use of anabolics, but how and when to curtail or abandon use safely should that need arise.


The use of anabolic steroids is unwise for persons who have not satisfied these prerequisites, though exceptions may be made in cases of very unusual athletic promise. While not a function of mere calendar age per se, it is unarguable that, on average, the likelihood that these conditions will have been met increases as the age of the prospective anabolic user increases.


For the reasons adduced above, the following statement of consensus opinion is made:


Allowing for substantial individual variability, and with the exception of cases of truly outstanding athletic promise, the athlete considering the use of anabolics should be socially and physically mature, psychologically healthy, and should have completed 4 to 7 years of dedicated, mentored training in strength/endurance athletics and study in lifting technique, dietary practices, recuperation skills and supplementation. In most cases, the athlete will have reached the age of 21 before these prerequisites are in place, recognizing that many athletes will not have achieved the necessary experience, physical maturity, and psychic balance until their mid-20's or even later.

[archive_Ulter]

Sorry about that 1440 thing it reset when I changed the avatar setting. In any event, I will put my John Hancock on this now. I have no further recommendations.

[archive_Bjaarki]

Good. Let's see if anyone else wants any further tuning. It would be great if each of the mods and the other senior members like Macro could check this out and see what they think. Not that we need unanimity, but rather consensus.

I think this process went pretty well, don't you? Let's figure out how to archive it, how to link it, and see what other CS's would be worth pursuing. You had that one on "Post-Cycle Regimen" you wanted to do, and one on "Precautions" was suggested during the development of this thread. Either would be a worthwhile next step.

Bjaarki

[archive_Ulter]

I think precautions are more important.

[archive_Mr. Nobody]

Looks excellent to me, reads like something a legislator put together, heheh....Bjaarki, ever considering running for congress?

Disclaimer:
Mr. Nobody is presenting fictitious opinions and does in no way, shape or form encourage, use nor condone the use of any illegal substances or the use of legal substances in an illegal manner.
The information discussed is strictly for entertainment purposes only and shall not take the place of qualified medical advice.

[archive_Bjaarki]

Yes.

But the weight room on The Hill really sucks ...

[archive_PDOGGY]

I like it.

Copyright it. (j/k)

*************************
One day we can stop trippin over how we sound and really trip on what we say. Then we can stop trippin on what we say and trip on what we mean. After that we can stop trippin altogether.

OUT!