Perfermance Enhancement Drugs in archery?

Don't get so excited...there are NUMEROUS older shooters out there that are on Beta-blockers and other medications for heart problems, etc.

It is a nearly SIMPLE process to get medical dispensation from the FITA agency that handles this stuff. Simply need to get the paperwork, have your doctor fill it out that the medications are PRESCRIBED for health reasons and NORMALLY, you are given the waivers.

However, without the waivers, if you test positive...you will be disqualified and possibly banned for abuse of the Drug Policy.

Read: USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) at all. The best advice I can give you is to visit their website at http://www.usantidoping.org/default.aspx

and also: www.archery.org

Select "anti-doping" and read to your heart's content...and take the action needed to "clear you" for prescribed medications...the key word being PRESCRIBED.

I'm affected directly by this, along with numerous other shooters that I know because of heart surgery, cholesterol medications, and "intentional tremor"...ALL of which are PRESCRIBED medications...and several of which areon the "banned substances lists".

Don't sweat what isn't a big deal...UNLESS you are routinely taking uppers and downers, or drinking alcohol to "settle our nerves", or using marijuana to help you chill out....or steroids...you know...stuff that you are doing outside the limits of the RULES for anti-doping...

In the not too distant past, I know for a FACT that SOME shooters were taking "toddies" to help settle them down...and nothing was done about it, because there simply weren't any rules to the contrary....UNTIL NOW...I'd imagine the IBO, ASA, and NFAA will be following suit very, very soon on this issue...due mostly to its sudden emergence as a "problem in baseball, football, and now cycling.

Hope this helps you.

field14 :tongue:

Read the links I posted earlier...the entire list of banned substances is there...as are the downloads of the appropriate forms for your doctor or prescribing physician to fill out and submit to the governing body...EVERYONE should know what they are dealing with...it sure isn't any hidden SECRET....


For OLYMPIC style archery...it has always been there...for ANY olympic sport...however, the archery part of it was recently updated to include other performance enhancing drugs to bring it in line with the other shooting sports and other sports in general.

It SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED a LONG TIME AGO, IMHO...and I'm a person that has prescribed medications for my heart and other health problems....no big deal...just get the doctor to fill out the paperwork and get the "dispensation"...it isn't any different than any other competitive sport.

I don't see anything at all wrong with an Anit-Doping policy for competitive archery or ANY competitive sport of any kind, but it should be standard across the board...for example...it shouldn't be OK to use marijuana in NFAA but not in FITA, or hasish in IBO, but not in ASA.....STANDARD across the board...use it and test positive...and you are disqualified and suspended for a certain period of time...repeat offenders...simple....BANNED for life.

They allow the special "dispensation" for prescription medications as long as it is certified by a licensed DOCTOR, NEUROLOGIST, CARDIOLOGIST, etc...so there isn't a big deal about it...UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE...then if you pull the stunt and test positive, the hammer of THOR should come down on you with full force.

If you want to do drugs and try to sneak by....then suffer the consequences. If you want to do drugs....then DON'T try to compete...unless you are willing to "do the time for the crime.":tongue: :wink:

field14:darkbeer: :cocktail: :cocktail:

I guess the sad thing about this is that the older shooters...Seniors, Master Seniors, etc...of which there are many with diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, and other types of ailments that REQUIRE medications for treatment...are gonna bear a brunt of this...if they are at the top of their divisions.
Many probably won't take the time to get the paperwork filled out and get "dispensation" from the organization..basically figuring to heck with the hassle of it all.

Of course, there WILL BE those that are "on something" intentionally that will do it and try to sneak by. There ARE THOSE already that figure "drugs? What's the problem with it; I dont' see anything at all wrong with it."

I know some "things" have been going on for years at the events by some top end shooters, as well as those in the "middle" of the ranks too...and they figure...nobody knows about it, so what the heck, or "others are doing it" so why shouldn't I?" Well, it appears the time has come that the "fiddler is going to be paid"...and SOME, probably VERY FEW, are going to pay the price...they either clean up their acts, or quit competing until they figure out how to perform WITHOUT the "enhancements", or quit competing all together.

So be it, I guess.

field14

The TESTS don't make that distinction...but if you are interested in COMPETING, then it is a SIMPLE MATTER of getting the paperwork, having your doctor fill it out properly, and SUBMIT IT for your "waiver" or "dispensation"...then, you can USE the PRESCRIBED medication in (or should I say prior to) competition without a problem. Then, if you get tested and run a positive, it is a simple thing to clarify it without any hassles.

You are not being told you aren't welcome...as long as you check out the list of banned substances...and get the "waiver" through proper channels...and that is the WAY IT SHOULD BE.

We are still going to have those that will try to sneak by knowingly in violation of the Anti-Doping policy...and there will always be those that slip thru the cracks too.

I would also carry a set of the labels from previous month's prescription bottles in my bowcase; just in case some weisenheimer judge gets "testy"...that is PROOF that the drug is indeed prescribed. Just remember, the drug tests are expensive, and most are not instantaneous.

If you are standing on the shooting line next to someone and you can "smell the alcohol on them"...then, IMHO, those people do NOT belong on the shooting line. Or, if it is obvious they are "high" on something....then THOSE PEOPLE also don't belong on the shooting line either.

I think what the Anti-Doping policy is all about is knowingly gaining unfair advantage or enhancing performance by trying to HIDE IT...and has little if anything to do with PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS issued by a certified and licensed physician.

field14