Topic: Steroids: a history and argument

[Rhys Lucero]

http://www.steroidinformation.com/history.htm
http://www.steroids-info.com/history.htm
 
In the '50s, many Russian and European athletes discovered that anabolic  
steroids were beneficial to meet their training goals.  They soon started  
crushing world records in weightlifting events.  In the mid '50s, Dr.  
Ziegler discovered that the steroids were behind much of the improvement in athletic ability.  Soon after the discovery, Dr. Ziegler and his labs were  
producing Methandrostenolone (Dianabol).  Ten years later, the anabolic  
steroids were available on the open market.  It wasn't until 1975 that  
anabolic steroids were officially banned from Olympic competition.
 
The trail of this drug use is apparent today by comparing the weightlifting  
records of relatively clean countries with the progression of world records.
 
British Weightlifting Record
http://www.bwla.co.uk/
 
American Weightlifting Records
http://www.msbn.tv/usavision/displayPage.aspx?id=316
 
Progression of World Weightlifting Records
http://www.sport-komplett.de/sport-komplett/sportarten/g/gewichtheben/rek/1_1.html
 
56kg
Snatch
   110.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Shiro Ichinoseki – JAP   1965   110@56
 
C&Jerk
   137.5 kg
   1/1/98
   Tschen Tschin-Kai - CHN   1956   137.5@56
 
Total
   247.5 kg
   1/1/98
   Mohammed Nassiri – IRN   1968   255@56
 
62kg
Snatch
   130.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Yoshinobu Miyake – JAP   1965   123.5@60
 
C&Jerk
   160.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Hsiao Ming-Siang – CHN   1965   153@60
 
Total
   290.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Hsiao Ming-Siang – CHN   1966   277.5@60
 
69kg
Snatch
   145.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Waldemar Baszanowski – POL   1964   132.5@67
 
C&Jerk
   175.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Waldemar Baszanowski – POL   1964   168@67
 
Total
   320.0 kg
   1/1/98
   Macharbi Kirschinow – SOV   1972   312.5@67
 
77kg
Snatch
   157.5 kg
   7/21/99
   Nedeltscho Kolev - BUL   1974   152.5@75
 
C&Jerk
   187.5 kg
   6/29/00
   Wiktor Kurenzow – SOV   1966   182@75
 
Total
   342.5 kg
   6/29/00
   Nedeltscho Kolev – BUL   1973   337.5@75
 
85kg
Snatch
   166.0 kg
   12/7/02
   Dawid Rigert – SOV   1972   160@82
 
C&Jerk
   197.5 kg
   11/23/02
   Juhani Avellan – FIN   1970   192.5@82
 
Total
   360.0 kg
   8/31/01
   Dawid Rigert – SOV  1972   355@82
 
94kg
Snatch
   167.5 kg
   1/1/98
   Kaarlo Kangasniemi – FIN   1969   160.5@90
 
C&Jerk
   205.0 kg
   11/20/99
   Wassili Kolotow – SOV   1970   200@90
 
Total
   372.5 kg
   1/1/98
   Dawid Rigert – SOV   1972   372.5@90
 
105kg
Snatch
   172.5 kg
   5/8/04
   Valentin Christov – BUL   1975   180@110
 
C&Jerk
   220.0 kg
   11/20/99
   Walerti Ustjuschin – SOV   1973   224@110
 
Total
   390.0 kg
   11/20/99
   Pawel Perwuchin – SOV   1973   400@110
 
105+kg
Snatch
   197.5 kg
   11/26/02
   Christo Platschkov – BUL   1975   197.5@110+
 
C&Jerk
   237.5 kg
   8/25/04
   Wassili Alexejew – SOV   1972   237.5@110+
 
Total
   430.0 kg
   8/25/04
   Wassili Alexejew – SOV   1975   430@110+
 
As you can see, between the years when steroids became widely available (1965) and when they were banned in Olympic competition (1975), the USA ceased to be competitive for international medals.