Amateur Downhill & Enduro Racer Banned for 4 Years for Using or Possessing 10 Banned Substances
An amateur racer from Woodland Hills, California, has accepted a four-year suspension from competition for an anti-doping rule violation involving his possession, use and/or attempted use of multiple prohibited substances.
The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) began its investigation into Vahe Aivazian, 52, following an anonymous tip-off and later discovered he was taking a number of prohibited substances including testosterone, nandrolone and human growth hormone.
Aivazian's suspension began on April 7, 2021, the date on which he accepted the sanction but his competitive results dating back to June 16, 2010, the date on which he first used prohibited substances, have been stripped, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes. Vahe raced on the the US domestic circuit and has racked up wins and podiums at the Fontana Winter Series, SoCal Enduros and Snow Summit DH Series in his age category.
USADA was initially made aware that Aivazian purchased products containing five different prohibited substances. However, after reviewing additional materials in January and February 2021, they learned that Aivazian possessed, used and/or attempted to use five additional prohibited substances. Although Aivazian initially contested his case through the arbitration process, he later voluntarily signed an acceptance of sanction form the day before the hearing for his case was to begin. The full list of banned substances he was taking is:
Testosterone – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents
Nandrolone – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) – a Non-Specified Substance in the category of Anabolic Agents
Somatropin (hGH) – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
Ipamorelin – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics
GHRP-6 – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
CJC-1295 – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
IGF-1 – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics
Anastrozole – a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators
USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart, said, "An essential part of an effective anti-doping program is to work closely with athletes, coaches, and others in sport and elsewhere who want clean and fair competition and to thoroughly investigate and act on credible evidence of doping violations. It’s a team effort and we need those who value clean sport to stand up, as this case demonstrates the fight for clean sport is stronger when we work together to protect clean athletes.”
Statement: Vahe Aivazian
In response to the article posted on USADA and Pinkbike my client’s statement is the following;
As the article states; “he elected to sign an acceptance of sanction form the day before the arbitration hearing in his case was to begin.” The information left out is that by US Cycling rules, I had to be in person in Norway for the arbitration. With the current climate of the world Pandemic that was not an option and if I did not show up the guilty determination would stand regardless of signature or not.
The article also states; “The ten substances below, which Aivazian possessed and used and/or attempted to use,” the wording of and/or is utilized in the statement because USADA or US Cycling never provided myself or my lawyer any proof of purchasing these substances or proof of me taking any substances that are outside of my Dr. prescribed medications. I was never blood tested, urine tested or any testing whatsoever. I was assumed guilty and per US Cycling rules assumptions over proof allow for banning of riders. Which intent is very import for every rider to understand that US Cycling when racing under their rules you are admitting guilt of using substances that they prohibit from the moment you sign-up. All they need is just one person to accuse you of any action of usage of substances that fall into these guidelines as stated on the USADA Website;
“If athletes choose to use supplements despite these known risks, USADA has always recommended that athletes use only dietary supplements that have been certified by a third-party program that tests for substances prohibited in sport.
USADA currently recognizes NSF Certified for Sport® as the program best suited for athletes to reduce the risk from supplements.”
So, cyclist going to a health food store or website and searching product that do not meet the above statement are guilty under the regulations of USADA and US Cycling. From my experience of over 20 years of racing can say most of us don’t know what dietary supplements contain and are sold over the counter at any local store or website.
At the end of the day I love mountain bikes and will continue with my passion of bikes and the community it has created for my life. I immigrated to the US 40 years ago, obtained my US citizenship, own my own business, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this sport and support of all the great people that provide local racers the events listed in the article. Without those people none of this exist and USADA and US Cycling have determined with no proof to eradicate a 52 year amateur racer that has done nothing but pour support and money into the local scene to ensure young riders have a place to race. Today USADA and US Cycling showed the world they do not support the local race organizers and frankly, should check every amateur's dietary supplement and do to them what they have done to me. I know that this would be the end of racing at all ages.
Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by email at playclean@usada.org, by phone at 1-877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253) or by mail. More info, here.
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I will just leave that there- the non-regulated drugs are way more dangerous and are often in use.
Back to drugs: prohibition always leads to Unregulated drug manufacture and misuse. It is a worldwide problem for all sorts of drugs.
His results are here: www.rootsandrain.com/rider17397/vahe-aivazian/results
You can type in your own name in the upper left if you race against him/his class (I do) and see if his juiced-up buttocks beat you....he didn't.
And that poses the question - at what age would you like your children to start doping?
The dude (Clarence) has elite lifts, doesnt compete as he doesnt have the ressources like Russia or China.
Drug testing is dumb and ineffective and the video proves that.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU
He's working on the sprinting
You would think he would of just had HRT and maybe just ended up with a GH/Test prescription administered by a dock at near hospital doses.
No?
Okay then, silence is best.
Also, username checks out.
Heart failure is a thing too, especially for older men.
What people will do to avoid aging - instead fo good diet, exercise and life balance - is amazing.
In terms of heart health, you can maintain a healthy BP, cholesterol, and RBC, and you steroid abuse will likely never impact your heart in a negative way.
For medical reasons we do what we gotta do.
My comment was more about those who choose supplements simply because they’re aging and can’t cope with it. The vanity use cases.
it's all a bunch of bullshit. set a maximum T count(say 20% over the 95th percentile) and let anyone compete up to that level.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708215/#:~:text=Exogenous%20administration%20of%20synthetic%20testosterone,and%20overall%20testosterone%20production%20decrease.
"Testosterone inhibits both GnRH and gonadotropin secretion. Exogenous administration of synthetic testosterone results in negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, inhibiting GnRH, leading to inhibition of FSH and LH production. As a result, intratesticular testosterone levels (ITT) and overall testosterone production decrease. "
If individuals analyzed their alcohol or sugar intake with same scrutiny as they analyzed things like cannabioids, psychedelics or TRT, steorids world would look differently isn't it? But the country leading in TRT is also in top 3 countries leading in obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. Problem is that taboos created also by antidoping propaganda limit research in the field.
On the other topic you are right; psilocybin at least should be legal and it may well be within 10 years in many places. It is a far better recreational drug than alcohol. Pharma however is not interested, there is no good money is something that cannot be patented.
It all needs to be balanced out to some point and reality is... it takes little to balance it out. Body Building of most types, is possibly the least practical. It isn’t even good at getting you laid later in life
I’d be more irritated with the sand baggers in the non masters categories.
If done correctly, they can help you - but then there are constantly stories on youtube about guys who were incredibly diligent about learning the perfect way to use steroids, and yet they had to quit because it was affecting them negatively in some way or another. Using them 'correctly' for most people seems to be like dancing on the edge of a razorblade.
And further, do we really want to create a situation where every person feels like they need to learn how to use steroids correctly in order to compete?
They should just let those dudes take wtf ever they want as long as they're not in pro class.
And yes... I agree. It is wack to cheat in competition. So I suppose I won't disagree with this or your last post. Ha. If you want to take all that shit go ahead. Just don't race. I kind of feel the same way in other similar discussions. Take what you want.... just don't enter competitions... especially ones with prizes attached.
The biggest issue from my point of view is, what happens if/when he can no longer get his hands on the gear - would he be able to function if the supply dried up? Especially at his age
But that's not to say that it was ONLY the substances. The guy obviously has to know how to ride a bike, as well.
Humiliating and Emasculating are the names Cyril uses around the office for you and Mallory...
Well... At least that's what Pam said.
Acting like steroids kill is comical though. Sure there are plenty of people on YouTube who THINK they know what they are doing, but I have news for you... YouTube is full of fake experts.
There are plenty of people on different forms of hormone therapy that have their quality of life greatly improved. I stand by my previous statement, "YouTube research" is as good as back alley treatment. Once again for the people in the back, just because you have a YouTube channel doesn't make you any sort of expert.
"Plus, who said he wanst getting his drugs on advice from a professional?"
Are you absolutely daft? Did you see the list? If a professional doctor was gearing him up like that, he should probably be identified and have his license removed.
I read his statement too, it reminded me of a child with his hand in the cookie jar or any defence by Donald Trump. "I didn't have my hand in the cookie jar, you can't prove it! Even if I did I didn't take a very big piece of cookie, and anyway someone else took two cookies, why aren't you looking at him?"
Pinkbike will not get it, but this is not a crazy "Stack" or "cycle" for a gym rat, dosage depending, at any age.
I can't be the only one who finds it crazy that USADA spends time and probably lots of money testing amateurs. This is a huge waste of funds, over dudes getting trophies.
On a side note, it's a bit stick-up-the-butt to say "Pinkbike will not get it"
No issue with him taking gear, issue is with cheating.
Never let go! Until the last beat of my heart. I'm 62.
"Testosterone?"
"Nandrolone?"
"DHEA?"
"Somatropin?"
"Ipamorelin?"
"Mimetics?"
.
.
.
Dude: "Yes!"
the health insurance which we all pay into?
ridiculous
Obviously didn't take it to improve his riding, but rather to get swole, but oh well. Could have simply not entered sanctioned races.
That's fairly harsh for some random amateur that doped. I'm pretty sure there are some doping pros that got off easier.
Kind of scary what some people will subject themselves to, all without any idea what the long term effects might be. You might be the fastest guy around today, and dead (or wishing you were) several years later......SMH
Honestly, now that I'm well north of 40, I kinda get the urge since it's harder to keep up with the younger crowd/ recover from injury etc.
I just bought an E-bike though
There is doping at the top level of sports but it isn't easy to get away with anymore, it isn't the 80s.
I posted a yt link in a comment above- it explains why the tests are just ineffective and he even gives examples what kind of stuff people now take.
The drug teste itsself is over 50(!) years old and hasnt been updated since.
Its easy as frick to get away with it lol
I had a buddy who was a genius on two wheels. He had grown up on BMX, and could lots of trials moves. When we were younger, he rarely rode more than a mile, so when we'd do trail riding together, he'd complain about the miles. If he raced XC, he'd be at the back of the pack. Thing was, he could pull moves that even to this day (20 years later) I can't match. Jibbing and jumping and manualing all day. Ironically, he got really into road riding and did quite well at it, but I always thought he wasted a lot of potential by never training for or racing downhill.
The guy clearly uses steroids to get jacked, not to win races lol
Part of what I always loved (and still do!!) about mountain biking is that those pressures aren't as strong (except for pure XC racing). I seldom race anymore (maybe an enduro or team 24 hour race every 2 years) but I'd drop a dime on someone like this in a heartbeat.
If you’re into fairness, sports may not be for you.
“Busted some heads and got em kicked out of racing”
“Really?”
“Yea, 52yr old cat 5 racer, won’t race ever again... for four years”
“Well the worlds a better place”
I bet more money was spent researching and filing paper work than was lost on entry fees.
I do find it strange that PinkBike has drawn a line in the sand regarding helmets in videos but they will let people advocate for doping.
I will work for FREE at WADA or USa Doping just to get tips or bribe money to have pros "pass" testing.
what a joke.
high end athletes are about as clean as Hollywood actors claiming they gained 80lbs of muscle in 6 months eating chicken and broccoli. Suure bud.
To be clear i have no problems with it, but people need to wake up.
www.rootsandrain.com/rider17397/vahe-aivazian/results
Time for him to talk a serene walk around a duck pond and reevaluate his life.
I love seeing all the guys who's spines can't make a 3-plate Big Three have an opinion on what looks to be a pretty standard and low-level BB/PL stack...
instagram.com/ridedh1?igshid=ngzyc2d91l1c
I heard he wants to know what you think of this story?
Cheers
Just because you want to stay top teir doesn't mean you get to cheat. If minnaar can't produce the hormones naturally to compete he isnt obligated to get on TRT to stay competitive, its time to get in the booth.