Drug abuse in fencing

[alw1977]

Hi all,
I am doing a paper about drug abuse in college athletes, and fencing is a sport that I will discuss. I have been told that there is one drug in particular that is often abused in the sport - does anyone know what the name is? Thanks in advance,
alw1977

[FoilyGeezer]

Caffeine maybe?

[Army Fencer]

This sparked my interest too when I sent in my application for National Champs. I am curious what over the counter meds will cause you to be removed from the tournament.

For a good place to start, or at least get an idea of how the USFA handles doping, I would go to the Athlete Programs Handbook, Chapter 6: Drug Testing Programs.

[Army Fencer]

Interesting sample:

It will be mentioned here that the FIE, the international governing body for the sport of fencing, has recently adopted the IOC ban on alcohol and cannibis (marijuana).

I wonder how recent? I've heard stories about fencers fencing drunk because they think it loosens them up.

[veeco]

If you read the FIE news on their website, you will see that there has been fencers suspended for cannabis use quite a few times in the past couple of years.

[Army Fencer]

Here's a list of banned substances.

Also, here's a link to the USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency).

Everything here applies to us. Alcohol is on there. I couldn't find caffiene, but caffeine does act as a diuretic.

[darius]

I seem to hazily recall one of the Italian foilists testing positive for HGH a bit after Sydney. Does anybody remember more specifics?

darius

[mifencer]

I heard when there was an East Germany, they tried everything for fencing. Nothing worked except for an occassional shot of liquir. Which is cannot be sustained over a whole day of competition (maybe a whole day of being a drunk -- I digress).

Off hand I can only think of a couple of instances of Sudafed being found.

[fence1848]

At my old college club, caffeine and pixi-stix were indeed the drug of choice. One morning before a meet, the Mad Turk downed an entire pot of coffee and one of the epeeists drank an entire coffee cup filled with pixie-stix powder. While these are not banned substances, if you saw how they behaved that day, you would want it banned. The result bears a striking resemblence to Bill the Cat over there <<<<---

[kalivor]

Here's a list of banned substances.

Also, here's a link to the USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency).

Everything here applies to us. Alcohol is on there. I couldn't find caffiene, but caffeine does act as a diuretic.

I believe that caffeine was removed as a banned substance as of January 2004. So if the list is up to date, it wouldn't be on it.

[Army Fencer]

I believe that caffeine was removed as a banned substance as of January 2004. So if the list is up to date, it wouldn't be on it.

That explains it. I've written a e-mail to the USADA to find out more.

[The0ne]

I know Gerberman was suspended at some point for drugs. . . I don't know which one though.

[wflaschka]

I wonder how recent? I've heard stories about fencers fencing drunk because they think it loosens them up.

In the early 90's, I heard rumors that the Italian team did shots before each round. I never tried that myself, but fencing with a hangover can increase your inner peace. Try being nervous when your head's about to explode.

Also -- those of us who would be hit by drug tests were told never to eat poppy seed bagels. The poppy, you see...

[Morion]

Here's a list of banned substances.

I checked out the list. I'm an Insulin dependant diabetic. What is a "Full TUE"?

[mfp]

I know Gerberman was suspended at some point for drugs. . . I don't know which one though.

Steve tested positive for metabolite of cannabis at a 2001 Junior World Cup in Madrid. The FIE suspended him from any and all national or international competitions for a period of three months.

[mifencer]

Steve tested positive for metabolite of cannabis at a 2001 Junior World Cup in Madrid. The FIE suspended him from any and all national or international competitions for a period of three months.

That's too bad, he should've went with the Canadian snow boarder's excuse: second hand smoke!

[veeco]

While HGH is a banned substance, I don't think that there are any valid tests that can prove that one has been taking it, I believe.

[wflaschka]

Woohoo! Next question -- what does it do, and can I get it in Canada? (I kid.)

[dunastor]

HGH stands for Human Growth Hormone,

it is secreted by the pituitary gland and has an effect on the bones and tissues especially in growing children.
It also has an effect on glucose metabolism.

I wouldn't exactly know why it would be used as doping, maybe for a quicker recovery after exercise....

[dunastor]

I checked out the list. I'm an Insulin dependant diabetic. What is a "Full TUE"?

It's a letter from your treating physician that you're really an insulin dependant diabetic.

for info just look on the site of the WADA