Tyler Hamilton positive again

[ny biker]

This man is either incredibly unlucky or incredibly clueless.

http://www.velonews.com/article/90740/tyler-hamilton-retires-following-second-positive-doping-test

p.s. They sell anti-depressants without a prescription?

[Zen]

p.s. They sell anti-depressants without a prescription?

In Mexico;)

[Possegal]

There are also OTC natural products touted as anti-depressants.

But I'm going to go with "the chimera did it". ;)

[Trek420]

Oh man. If he thought he was depressed before ..... :(

[Zen]

Any excuse is better than none.

[Trek420]

So this means he's suspended, again? Two years at his age and it's curtains for his career.

[kacie tri-ing]

The article said he retired.

[Mistie]

Possegal, that was the most hilarious comment! I watched that whole sport special on Tyler and his "chimera"...how ridiculous is that?! I LOVED your comment though!
M

[Grog]

I feel really sorry for him.

Was it here that I heard of folks organizing a local race that had to turn him away as he tried to sneak in? I think one can talk of a really sad case of addiction.

[maillotpois]

I feel really sorry for him, too. What a sad story.

[papaver]

it probably was a big cry for help. Hope he gets it.

[Zen]

Oh THAT chimera.
I was thinking about the little thing you sit on the patio and I was confused:o

[Red Rock]

I agree with all of you. And he is the current National Champion! Quick, can we give that title to George Hincapie or Levi Lephimer? If he did infact retire it is probably the best thing on all angles. He will not have to worry about where his next fix is coming from and US cycling will not be damaged any more by him.

[Tuckervill]

Wait, RR are you saying he's a heroin addict or something? I don't get it.

I think it was a sad article, because the man is suffering greatly from depression. His mother has cancer and he got divorced. I feel sorry for him.

I don't think he should be racing at all. He's messed up. Seems like he's finally realizing it.

Karen

[celerystalksme]

i just wiki'ed DHEA...and it doesn't sound like it would be very beneficial to an athlete. why is it banned?

[Possegal]

if you Wiki "testosterone synthesis", you will see DHEA again. :)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Steroidogenesis.svg

That's not to say that there is scientific proof that it helps athletes, just that this is the reason it would be used and why it would be banned. I think there is also speculation that since it is made by the adrenals, as is cortisol, you can disrupt the feedback mechanism of the body that controls the adrenals and by taking exogenous DHEA, you can cause less cortisol to be released. Again, not saying there is scientific proof. Some things work much better on paper, the body being a far more complicated beast than the diagrams would lead one to believe. :)

[Red Rock]

Sorry Tuckerville and others, I was a bit out of alignment. Yes, depression is a bad thing and it looks like he has a lot on his plate. May he have some peace and time to think on things and get healthy.

[ladyicon]

Oh THAT chimera.
I was thinking about the little thing you sit on the patio and I was confused:o

That was funny Zen, that's exactly what I was thinking also. Ooops, wrong one.
He is a very confused and sad man, hope he can find the help he needs.

[sundial]

I hope he finds his way. :(

[smurfalicious]

*sigh* I think it's going to take me a few days of being bummed out about this. I've always been a big fan of the dark horses. And riding the tour with a broken collar bone? Man, that makes him as tough as the bull riders I know who would do brilliant things like driving all over the state to buck out at 3 rodeos in a weekend with a broken arm.

When he was leading in the ToC I put it on one of the registers at the store because I was so wound up. I was jumping up and down squealing like a 12 year old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert. My manager said I looked like I was about to have a big O.

There are some really dark places inside depression and I've been in all of them, it sucks. I took the prescription crap, they're awful. They made me feel absolutely dead inside and like I had only one emotion and that was, "meh." My dog could have died and I would have been like, whatever.

So you do what you can. If you can get yourself out of bed to do the things that you enjoy, sometimes it helps. Other times you're just sleep walking through them. There were times that my best friend drug me out to photograph at the skateboard park and I was my smiling and laughing by the end. Then there were times I went out and rode my horse, had a grand old time, and the minute I started driving home I just wanted out of my own head because it was a scary, dark, lonely place to be.

Instead of those awful pills that made me feel dull and delightfully made me gain weight (just what someone with depression needs, feeling fat) I take 5-HTP and a B-complex. B deficiencies will contribute to depression, and 5-HTP is a precursor to seritonin production. All told it works much better than my old homeopathic remedy of cutting and burning myself. And yeah I did that on those wonderful pills they advertise with happy people on shiny magazine pages.

I guess it's easy to see him as the boy who cried wolf, but if it's as dark in his head as it gets in mine I can totally understand doing whatever works. There are some sketchy things out there marketed as homeopathic treatments but he's much too pretty to use my old method. And selfless girl that I am, I'm totally willing to provide him with free hugs.

And lastly, I really hope this doesn't mean he's not out on the roads anymore. He's an awesome part of the community. One of the few people who will roll up to you, already unclipped and ready to help, if you're stopped on the road. Man, the prayer list I'm going to have to take to The River tonight is getting longer and longer.

[smurfalicious]

I agree with all of you. And he is the current National Champion! Quick, can we give that title to George Hincapie or Levi Lephimer? If he did infact retire it is probably the best thing on all angles. He will not have to worry about where his next fix is coming from and US cycling will not be damaged any more by him.

Nope, the guy he beat, Blake Caldwell, just broke his leg:

http://www.velonews.com/article/90149

[ny biker]

The article said that there are documented cases of cyclists ingesting banned substances unintentionally, so it could be that he was just unlucky this time. But given his prior history, they will not go easy on him even if it was unintentional. Hence the retirement. They're going to ban him for life anyway.

[parity]

The article said that there are documented cases of cyclists ingesting banned substances unintentionally, so it could be that he was just unlucky this time. But given his prior history, they will not go easy on him even if it was unintentional. Hence the retirement. They're going to ban him for life anyway.

He knew what he was taking was banned, he says so here:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/apr09/apr17news3

"What I did was wrong and yes, I did know it [DHEA] was on the list of banned substances. I also knew that USADA could have shown up any day and at any time to test me. But, I was going through a very rough moment and I was desperate. I heard about it and I thought I would try it out as an act of desperation," said Hamilton, but he denied he took the supplement for performance enhancement. "Did I take it for a banned substance? Absolutely not."

Unfortunately given his past its hard to not think it was being used as a performance enhancement. I hope he is able to get through his depression and ultimately make a better and happier life for himself.

[snapdragen]

Wow, some of the comments here are really ice cold. I've been in that horrible place called depression too, I imagine he really didn't give a damn if what he was trying was a banned substance.

From the Mitamins website:

Ingredients Description:
St. John's Wort Extract helps to promote a positive mood and a healthy emotional balance, essentials in the natural treatment of depression. Clinical research has suggested that taking DHEA orally might improve the symptoms of depression. Omega - 3 Fatty Acids are vital for managing all brain and nerve abnormalities. The Vitamin B Complex is made up of several vitamins that work in unison to assist with the symptoms of depression and to support the health of the nervous system. Studies have shown that Vitamin D and Calcium Citrate supplementation may be important in elevating moods and relieving symptoms of depression.


Amount Per Serving % DV
Vitamin D 100 IU 25%
Thiamin 50 mg 3333%
Riboflavin 50 mg 2941%
Niacin 50 mg 250%
Vitamin B6 50 mg 2500%
Folate 400 mcg 100%
Vitamin B12 50 mcg 833%
Biotin 50 mcg 17%
Pantothenic Acid 50 mg 500%
Calcium 50 mg 5%
Choline Bitartrate 50 mg *
St. John's Wort Extract 100 mg *
DHEA 20 mg * Inositol 50 mg *
Omega - 3 Fatty Acids 100 mg *
PABA 50 mg *

* Daily Value not established

[Tuckervill]

I imagine he really didn't give a damn if what he was trying was a banned substance.

Yeah. He could have just ridden his bike over a cliff, instead.

I've been faced with that choice before. Destroy what I love or destroy my life. I try not to judge.

Karen

[smilingcat]

it certainly isn't the way an athlete would like to retire. Life can be unfair and cruel. I hope he gets some help with his depression. That is far more important than standing on podium or racing for that matter.

I harbor no ill toward him, just compassion and understanding. I hope he can come out from his chronic depression.

[crazycanuck]

I have no clue who tyler hamilton is & don't pay much attention to roadie stuff. I just wanted to chime in & say I sincerely hope he doesn't end up like Jobie Dajka. :(

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25311826-5006787,00.html

[Aggie_Ama]

I thought the chimera was BS but I feel for him if he is truly depressed. If he is telling the truth I am hoping he will take the actions to get help he needs. Retiring and removing the pressure of being a professional is a good move.

[kermit]

I take DHEA. It's as over-the-counter as you can get. My doctor recommended it. I think he would have to take alot for his levels to get so outrageous to be illegal. Either that or the testing process is out of control. DHEA can raise your natural testosterone level but it also elevates your mood. What a shame!

[malkin]

Oh THAT chimera.
I was thinking about the little thing you sit on the patio and I was confused:o

You'd sit on a chiminea? Or on a chimera?
Now I'm confused.

[Dogmama]

At age 38, he is pretty close to retirement. Bummer that he had to leave this way. I've always been a fan.

[denny]

Oh man. If he thought he was depressed before ..... :(

Yeah- let's hope it doesn't get worse but actually allows him the freedom to do something productive with his depression experience and not having the constant pressure to win.