Rhyne Hughes suspended 50 games

[Can_of_corn]

Not to speak for him completely, but I think his point is that all it does is keeps him focused on his workout. It doesn't give him any biological advantage at completing the workout at a higher level. He's still performing at the same level he otherwise would have, but he was more motivated to actually do it. It's nothing that a cup of coffee and a personal trainer wouldn't do.

It is simple, if without help he can work out 3 times a week for an average of 30 minutes and with help he can work out 3 times a week for an hour each time then the drug is helping him become more fit.

It amazes me that folks get up in arms over steroids and HGH and yet defend amphetamine use.

(For the record I don't really care what they take as long as they are 18 or older.)

[TJ Wrangler]

It is simple, if without help he can work out 3 times a week for an average of 30 minutes and with help he can work out 3 times a week for an hour each time then the drug is helping him become more fit.

It amazes me that folks get up in arms over steroids and HGH and yet defend amphetamine use.

(For the record I don't really care what they take as long as they are 18 or older.)

I completely agree with your last part. I actually prefer all PEDs to be allowed in sports. The difference between this and something like steroids is that steroids actually increase protein synthesis and biologically allow for you to build muscle faster, while amphetamines don't actually help you perform at a higher level, rather they just help you get to the point where you can perform.

Personally, I think it is an athlete's responsibility, to the extent they're comfortable doing, to put themselves in the best position to perform the highest level. Steroid use (not abuse) that is cycled properly and medically monitored is very beneficial to an athlete without much in the way of side effects. The amount of misinformation out there is alarming. Steroids are not something that can be used once or twice (the Brian Roberts defense) to where you'd feel any noticeable effects from them, nor do they take the place of intense levels of training that athletes need to put themselves through regardless.

So without getting into too long of a rant, I agree that with you on your stance on PED use, but I feel that most people are fed misinformation that steers them to have an automatic negative position towards their use.

[Can_of_corn]

I completely agree with your last part. I actually prefer all PEDs to be allowed in sports. The difference between this and something like steroids is that steroids actually increase protein synthesis and biologically allow for you to build muscle faster, while amphetamines don't actually help you perform at a higher level, rather they just help you get to the point where you can perform.

It doesn't matter how they work the end result is the same, both allow you to perform in ways you could not without their use.

[SammyBirdland]

I completely agree with your last part. I actually prefer all PEDs to be allowed in sports.

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[HookMan]

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Fish paralyzer is great! Phil Hartman was great-er!

[TJ Wrangler]

It doesn't matter how they work the end result is the same, both allow you to perform in ways you could not without their use.

This I disagree with. In crowmst3k's example, the amphetamine didn't give him the physical ability to cycle for an hour when he otherwise couldn't. He physically had that ability the entire time. All it did was keep him focused so he didn't quit halfway through his workout. It's similar to taking a pre-workout drink or caffeine.

A good example for cycling is blood doping, which is removing some of your blood way before the contest and then reinjecting it the night before the contest. The increased red blood cells physically allow for more oxygen to be carried to the muscles, thereby increasing cardiovascular endurance. It has the same effect as sleeping in an altitude chamber or training at high altitude, but one is illegal and the other two aren't. In this example, the blood doping would actually physically put him in a position where he could cycle longer at a higher intensity, while the amphetamine will just keep him focused as he's cycling at his normal level.

[Can_of_corn]

This I disagree with. In crowmst3k's example, the amphetamine didn't give him the physical ability to cycle for an hour when he otherwise couldn't. He physically had that ability the entire time. All it did was keep him focused so he didn't quit halfway through his workout. It's similar to taking a pre-workout drink or caffeine.

A good example for cycling is blood doping, which is removing some of your blood way before the contest and then reinjecting it the night before the contest. The increased red blood cells physically allow for more oxygen to be carried to the muscles, thereby increasing cardiovascular endurance. It has the same effect as sleeping in an altitude chamber or training at high altitude, but one is illegal and the other two aren't. In this example, the blood doping would actually physically put him in a position where he could cycle longer at a higher intensity, while the amphetamine will just keep him focused as he's cycling at his normal level.

But it gave him the mental ability to cycle for an hour when he didn't have it before. He is still doing things in an enhanced fashion. Obviously caffeine is not sufficient or all these doctors would be writing scrips for Vente Lattes.

[TJ Wrangler]

But it gave him the mental ability to cycle for an hour when he didn't have it before. He is still doing things in an enhanced fashion. Obviously caffeine is not sufficient or all these doctors would be writing scrips for Vente Lattes.

What he said is that it helped him focus through the boring parts while he cycled for his normal workout. This is also coming from someone who was prescribed this due to not being 100% alert. In the case of an athlete who doesn't need the prescription, all it is doing is basically giving them a quick rush to get psyched up for their workout. It's not actual energy or anything that is physically improving an athlete's performance. It's the psychological equivalent of a cup of coffee and watching the Rocky training montage.

All that said, I don't think we're in disagreement that it does something for you. My point is that it isn't really something that can 100% confidently be called a performance enhancing drug.

[Whammer]

Why waste a 50 game suspension on amphetamine? If you're going to risk a suspension, at least take one for the team and hulk up for us.

Yeah Rhyne - you too can smash 50 HR's just like a certain Orioles CF did in 1996 (26 more than any other season at the time).

[crowmst3k!]

Doesn't being able to use the elliptical machine for an hour, when you otherwise could not, make you stronger, faster and potentially a better athlete?

Oh, I can complete the workout without dexedrine. It just feels less boring and sloggy when I take it.

[Catch 8]

Amphetamines are 214832847289347238x more dangerous than steroids.

They enhance performance in some ways, but also inhibit performance in ways (i.e., cause you to airmail throws). You can get dizzy from workouts, too, frequently. Not pleasant.

I cannot imagine they are beneficial when it comes to cardio. Depending on dosage and time in your system, they can be a plus for a day's performance/training or a negative.

[crowmst3k!]

Amphetamines are 214832847289347238x more dangerous than steroids.

They enhance performance in some ways, but also inhibit performance in ways (i.e., cause you to airmail throws). You can get dizzy from workouts, too, frequently. Not pleasant.

I cannot imagine they are beneficial when it comes to cardio. Depending on dosage and time in your system, they can be a plus for a day's performance/training or a negative.

I'll temper my posts by stating that I don't know exactly which form of Amphetamine Rhyne Hughes was taking. Stating "Amphetamine" could mean anything from something as dangerous as Meth to something as innocuous as Ritalin.

I agree that, as a rule, illicitly obtained, non medically supervised use of amphetamine should not be tolerated in sport. It's the ephedrine argument again, and the Orioles did have a casualty on that front.

But, if any player has a medically diagnosable condition which requires the therapeutic use of Amphetamine-based medication for treatment, and that player acquires this legitimately through a physician or psychiatrist, then MLB should exempt that medication from their banned substances program.

I take dextro-amphetamine at a regulated dosage level, in a spansule form (time release). While it helps me mentally, I've determined that any physical benefit from using the drug properly, with regards to exercise, is minimal, if present at all. My psychiatrist is also aware of my physical activity regimen, and he has concluded that risk of harm by my taking the medication along with that schedule is nearly non-existent.

[crowmst3k!]

Note: all of my posts in this thread are not to be taken as medical advice. All explanations are derived from my own anecdotal evidence and are not to be interpreted as scientific.

[SammyBirdland]

Note: all of my posts in this thread are not to be taken as medical advice. All explanations are derived from my own anecdotal evidence and are not to be interpreted as scientific.

Too late. I just smoked a big amphetamine dooby and ran 250 miles on my treadmill.

[DrungoHazewood]

Doesn't being able to use the elliptical machine for an hour, when you otherwise could not, make you stronger, faster and potentially a better athlete?

There has to be some kind of distinction between 'roids and greenies or it's much harder for the oldtimers to wag an indignant finger and go on about how they're morally superior to those darned kids today.