Amateur Downhill & Enduro Racer Banned for 4 Years for Using or Possessing 10 Banned Substances

Apr 23, 2021 at 6:30
by James Smurthwaite  
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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.

Author Info:
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421 Comments
  • 933 39
 Let's get a "Modified Class" going where people can take all the drugs they want and race each other. I mean, we are racing ebikes now. Why not??
  • 1609 31
 It’s already a thing, it’s called the Tour De France
  • 112 8
 @artistformlyknowasdan: well played, sir. Well played.
  • 39 129
flag dorkbike (Apr 23, 2021 at 7:24) (Below Threshold)
 That will probably never happen because sadly unregulated and even regulated drugs have side-effects that kill people.
  • 72 2
 @artistformlyknowasdan: If this combo doesn't end up as comment gold on the podcast next week, there is no justice in the world.
  • 123 2
 @dorkbike: username checks out.
  • 46 121
flag justwaki (Apr 23, 2021 at 7:48) (Below Threshold)
 @artistformlyknowasdan: It is not legal to take prohibited substances for TDF, don’t be ridiculous. People do get caught. at least those who are not on “protected riders” list. If you work hard, get good results as a Junior and get good sponsors they will pay UCI and WADA to put you on that list. You have to earn it. It’s serious business to UCI. /s
  • 9 0
 @dorkbike: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQLweuRSD9M&t=1515s

I will just leave that there- the non-regulated drugs are way more dangerous and are often in use.
  • 4 0
 @bobbyridesbikes512: Aivazian would have all his bases covered if there was such a category!
  • 48 51
 @NotNamed: thank you for this. As a matter of fact nearly every professional sport is a health damaging activity even drugs aside. Many athletes destroy their bodies in the process. Add commercial machine than motivates people more to sit on a couch and watch competition on TV rather than go out and exercise. And these people are living in absolute ignorance of how this business rolls. They think there are a few black sheep.

Back to drugs: prohibition always leads to Unregulated drug manufacture and misuse. It is a worldwide problem for all sorts of drugs.
  • 12 0
 @artistformlyknowasdan: You woke up and chose violence
  • 9 0
 @DaFreerider44: lol, is there any other choose?
  • 2 1
 @artistformlyknowasdan: For you obviously not lmfao
  • 1 0
 Nice.
  • 1 0
 Fair enough
  • 18 0
 This dude wasn't winning many races lately, and rarely raced outside of SoCal/Fontucky.

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.
  • 22 5
 Yes! DH races on amphetamine. Free lines for the crowd for the shits and the giggles. Come and steroids to make the cross country lot angry and turn the races into a road rash esque survival race. Enduros can be getting to the end and having to take a new drug at each stage. Start with weed and finish with DMT.
  • 2 2
 Very well said Sir!!!@artistformlyknowasdan:
  • 3 7
flag Paulman1 (Apr 23, 2021 at 11:01) (Below Threshold)
 Very well said!@justwaki:
  • 2 0
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU
  • 4 0
 @bobbyridesbikes512 Like get real high and race your buddies? Sounds like plenty of "Hold my beer moments" and Friday Fails fodder. Good times!
  • 1 0
 “I swear I’m natty!”
  • 6 0
 @bobbyridesbikes512

And that poses the question - at what age would you like your children to start doping?
  • 1 0
 That comment needs to framed on a wall!
  • 1 2
 @artistformlyknowasdan: awesome comment ! When do you think they started taking drugs in the Tour?
  • 1 0
 Yeah and then when someone's heart explodes because they've pushed it too far it'll be great entertainment.
  • 1 1
 @justwaki: Thats what the whole video is about- his answer video is even better. .

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.
  • 2 0
 Its called strava.
  • 3 0
 Obligatory SNL reference:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAdG-iTilWU
  • 1 0
 I have been begging to see this in the NFL. If we aren't gonna give a crap about CTE, let's pull all the stops.
  • 2 0
 NHRA rules. There should be classes based on how much and of what.
  • 3 0
 @Hyakian: I used to be an Alcohol Fumy Car, but now I'm just an Altered Gasser.
  • 1 0
 @suspended-flesh: haha - right on, me2 Big Grin
  • 295 3
 Gotta get those KOMs. #Strava4lyfe
  • 42 1
 Dude doesn't have any KOMs... Thats one way to get them though I guess! www.strava.com/athletes/1454783/segments/leader
  • 105 4
 @lews-therin: double LOL. Ruin your body with drugs, and not even have any BS Strava KOMS. Pure comedy.
  • 15 0
 @lews-therin: He's missing EPO in his drug repertoire. Must be why haha
  • 2 2
 ***#Stravaislife
  • 13 37
flag togood2die (Apr 23, 2021 at 8:04) (Below Threshold)
 @thedirtyburritto: Testosterone? Ruin your body? LMAO
  • 22 44
flag smgishot13 (Apr 23, 2021 at 8:06) (Below Threshold)
 @thedirtyburritto: I don’t think anything here ruins your body. Only makes it better probably. This guys wasn’t about winning, he’s over 50. It’s about turning the clock back ‍♂️
  • 1 0
 @lews-therin: Sheeeeeeeee
  • 11 0
 @smgishot13: Yeah, because the charge is that he went to a doctor and got T prescribed. Wait, no, that's not it. He was doping with black market T and 9 other performance enhancing drugs. Maybe the dude should have practiced more and doped less.
  • 41 2
 Anyone else notice that the guys defending the use of testosterone seem kinda aggressive? ... Sorry, that was a cheap shot, but I couldn't resist.
  • 7 0
 @togood2die: lets play spot the test users
  • 6 1
 This guy is honestly playing with fire though. Using your aged body as a lab test for PEDs is a great way to drop dead of a heart attack.
  • 2 0
 Just install the app in an emulator, I am sure there is a way to fake the GPS signal without leaving your sofa :-)
  • 26 6
 A wealthy douchebag from CA doing something illegal just to get more "social" points by doing better in races that don't matter? WELL, I'M JUST SHOCKED!!!
  • 15 22
flag suspended-flesh FL (Apr 23, 2021 at 10:44) (Below Threshold)
 @scott-townes: Thanks, Nancy Pelosi!
  • 10 0
 Seriously, though. What advantage would he gain in DH and Enduro especially at that low level and at Fontana? Fontana downhills are quite short. For XC racing, I could see him getting an advantage, but still small at amateur events. The whole story is like a South Park episode. Lol.
  • 6 0
 @tacklingdummy: For XC everything he is on would be detrimental. All those drugs are intended to induce hypertrophy, bigger muscles would just suck O2 in a XC race.
  • 3 2
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: Then why do pro road bikers use that stuff?
  • 4 2
 @scott-townes: cue the wealthy d bags saying 'YOURE JUST MAD YOU CANT AFFORD IT'
  • 5 0
 @tacklingdummy: Pro cyclists aremuch more likely to use drugs like a EPO. Most of those drugs on that list are going to result in much larger muscles than what can be naturally achieved. That extra muscle tissue will not help at all and anything that involves cardio. Testosterone would help for recovery, but in the amount he was using it Based on his Instagram photos the net result would be detrimental to race times
  • 2 0
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: I'm not well versed in doping and the types. Lol.
  • 15 0
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: it seems to me he’s a guy who’s into bodybuilding, who happens to race bikes as well.
  • 1 1
 @jaame: You should see the sprint at the end of Fontana DH track.
He's working on the sprinting
  • 1 0
 Most likely he was experimenting this stuff to help manage serious injuries and their rehabilitation. People don’t understand the lengths one would go to heal truly massive long-term injury especially if it’s in your back or something.@tacklingdummy:
  • 1 0
 @HB208:

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.
  • 1 0
 @RynoRodrigosouraus: That is pure speculation that he was taking steroids trying to heal any injuries. If true, it is not the smart way to go about it to try to heal injuries.
  • 2 1
 @kcy4130: @kcy4130: Have you been blown up so much your brain can't make T naturally and your 35yo body has the levels of a 70yo?

No?

Okay then, silence is best.
  • 244 1
 We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can
  • 62 0
 Fear And Loathing in Woodland Hills
  • 6 0
 Can’t stop here ......this is bar country
  • 7 0
 @mxmtb: Can't stop here......this is strip mall country!
  • 2 0
 Comment gold!
  • 15 0
 Can't stop here, it's KOM country.
  • 9 0
 HOLY JESUS! WHAT ARE THESE GODDAMN ANIMALS?

Also, username checks out.
  • 10 3
 You should be banned. But only for the Budweiser.
  • 3 0
 @ODubhslaine: we'll let him off if it's the Czech version Smile
  • 2 0
 Can't stop here! .... this is E-Bike Country!
  • 217 0
 That guy must have really wanted the 26" tube and $5 gift certificate at his local shop for winning those races
  • 3 0
 Haha. For real.
  • 141 4
 That's a lot to fit in a water bottle.
  • 136 0
 I'm about his age. Will any of those make my knees feel better?
  • 61 0
 They'll all make your knees feel better
  • 27 2
 @kilo11: dunno if I’d trade good knees for heart failure
  • 105 0
 @pourquois-pas: *taps finger to temple knowingly* knees can't hurt if you're dead.
  • 17 0
 @pourquois-pas: Testosterone therapy is a thing. Especially for aging men.
  • 18 0
 @big-red: Modern problems require modern solutions.
  • 7 3
 Yes if you don't mind growing Hairy Breasts.
  • 9 1
 Yes, steroids are pretty amazing, thats why they are illegal.
  • 6 1
 They might, but be prepared to take testosterone till you die. Many people will develop a resistance to the hormone if taken in excess and end up with fun things like gynecomastia and galactorrhea etc.
  • 11 2
 @TheDirkDiggler: Yup.

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.
  • 15 6
 @pourquois-pas: What if life balance is on point and T is still low? Like for example, me, who's brain's been blown up a lot and the TBI stuff has cut my chemical production to near nothing? I have a 305# Incline bench and 300+ dead and squat, and my T is still in the lower 1/3rd of males my age. My body literally needs it because it is broken.
  • 7 2
 @Konyp: Yeah, I'm starting that now and it feels amazing, thanks for asking! T is something we make naturally, but what if that production is broken?
  • 2 0
 @togood2die: Well, your situation is obviously specific (though not uncommon) as you have a deficiency and you treat it appropriately. No-one's saying there's anything wrong with that. But rules in competition are rules in competition and you know as well as that guy probably did that you shouldn't be entering regulated races, simple as that. You can get your competitive sport fix in power sports where lots of federations allow this. Just not in cycling.
  • 14 13
 @Konyp: Huh, perhaps if Testosterone Replacement Therapy would be easily accessible (and legal in the first place) people would use testosterone supplements in right dosages in an educated manner. They would be able to make choice for themselves actually knowing about risks of misuse. But if your only source of it is some dodgy bro at a dodgy gym there's no wonder sht happens. It is delusional to think doctors all over the world made it so to keep patients from harm. Pharma earns more from treating results of low testosterone than from selling testosterone supples. Then consipracy aside, never rule out incompetence of medical and academic cicrles.
  • 8 1
 @pourquois-pas: low testosterone also causes heart disease. The more you know.

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.
  • 7 2
 @justwaki: As a professional priest in the hermetic order of big pharma I can assure you that this particular bit of knowledge is a myth. The measly pennies earned treating testosterone deficiency would not be worth the trouble.
  • 1 0
 Finally someone on pink bike that gets where I’m coming from.
  • 3 0
 @togood2die: sorry to hear man.

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.
  • 13 19
flag justwaki (Apr 23, 2021 at 9:03) (Below Threshold)
 I meant effects of low testosterone and testosterone i low in majority of males after 50... I don't plan to live longer than 65, I would like to get a good doc that can prescribe me safe dosages of testosterone, I am a big boy and can decide over my body. Don't need daddy state to tell me what can I take. I don't need a dumb anti drug campaign to keep me off Meth. I will not take it. I won't take Heroin. Won't take MDMA because my current life situation doesn't allow safe and responsible use of it and I don't have any need for it. But I would gladly see it administered to those in need. As we see Colorado, Oregon and California are fighting the death toll and brain damage epidemic caused by legalization of Marijuana... I am yet to die of consumption of Mushrooms rated by medical commmunity as poisonous and some even deadly despite lack of medical records supporting this narrative (Amanita species for example) Meanwhile I am wondering where are the facilities educating about and administering use of alcohol to 18yr olds... I am so depressed right now that I think I need prescription of "safe" opiates. if I could get a bit of Adderal I'd finish this damn project in a week and could out and ride.
  • 1 1
 a few of em in there won't make your wife's knees feel better!
  • 5 5
 @bananowy: but you can be a dude and identify as a woman and compete? wanna measure those T levels?

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.
  • 5 11
flag justwaki (Apr 23, 2021 at 9:16) (Below Threshold)
 @Konyp: Most importantly, I won't take synthetic drugs which are not made by Big pharma or state supervised production plant with certificates, be it testosterone or cocaine. If my kid is to take Molly at at party in 10 years, I prefer it to come from state controlled lab. But unless state legalizes it, this won't happen.
  • 8 0
 Honestly I'm not sure if I should feel sorry for this guy or not. It seems far more likely that he was taking this stuff to look good maybe to pull the ladies, rather than because he desperately wanted to be a faster racer in his locals. Sorta sounds like he was just your typical gym juicer that also enjoyed mtb racing. But I don't know anything about it and could be completely wrong.
  • 3 0
 @justwaki: I see you're a libertarian again
  • 1 1
 @Konyp: Can you explain how you develop a resistance to testosterone?
  • 2 2
 @iridedj: Inhibition is indeed is a better word.

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. "
  • 5 6
 @hamncheez: I want big pharma to earn money. Alcohol and tobacco lobbies earn way too much, while their products do loads of harm.
  • 1 1
 Totally agree!@justwaki:
  • 1 0
 Muscle pain and injuries are not a problem because they can repair quickly. However, joint and tendon injuries and issues are extremely hard to resolve. I have a knee and elbow injuries (elbow is worse) that haven't healed in months and years.
  • 4 0
 Let the old men dope!
  • 7 2
 @Konyp: risks are well known to those who take time to educate themselves. Just Like the benefits. Same is true for almost any substance out there. We will not be able to go through clinical studies here, particularly in which physical shape of hose who undertake therapy so that we could have an insight into other underlying conditions that TRT may have exaggerated. You will not tell me that all of the people who take TRT are males living healthy lifestyles. Did well administered TRT push a healthy male into path to heart attack or prostate cancer, or diabetes, or... was he a bit of a fatty or generally someone with poor diet and lifestyle. Please remember that building muscle in the gym does not mean healthy lifestyle. Currently quite a few of worlds biggest fitness youtubers and influencers are on battle against cardio.

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.
  • 2 2
 @justwaki: Lol, up - most bodybuilders are not THAT healthy all things considered. You are just putting your body through an immense amount of stress and not doing any cardio.
  • 11 2
 @HB208: All things considered, all things are rarely considered... one cannot live their life watching what will kill them, it's pointless if only for the fact that it is rarely one thing that kills you. Except bears. Bears will kill you. Nothing scares me more than living a life where I avoid all risks only to die looking like Prince Philip... we all die for Gods sake and it's never pretty. Eating avocados and doin 10k steps a die won't save you from agony and your kids of taking care of you while losing good days of good part of their life. Doing yoga and being slim won't make you die in a way that you disappear and your family have only good memories of you. I want to enjoy my body in its prime shape as long as I can. Ride with kids for as long as I can in best shape as I can. I don't mind it all break down at some point and just piss off this world. Hopefully on the edge of some glacier crevass in the middle of nowhere after taking a good dose of LSD. I don't really know why pople look forward to being old and broken at 90 but it's everyones individual decision I don't put myself into it. At 40 I still think it's ok to die once your kids get self sufficient. I don't want any smart basterd to try to save me from myself, but that's how the system is rigged. if somebody wants to eat steak everyday with loads of butter, fries, bbq sauce and pour beer into himself afterwards with some ice cream? Be my bloody guest. Go consume yourself as long as you don't take my space or space of my family like I do my best to ge the hell out of way of people in my daily life. Except PB comment board... this is where I exercise me getting in the wa Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @Konyp: yes but you are taking external test. So obviously your natural production shuts down. You don't need it haha. Assumed for older men taking trt protocols is you take it for the rest of your life.
  • 5 0
 @justwaki: Fair enough. I am just saying that if you look at a lot of older body builders, they have usually destroyed their body beyond repair. Look at Ronnie Coleman.
  • 5 0
 @justwaki: Remember you may not be a good representative of the general population. If you eavesdrop on some acne-covered beefcakes at the gym you will find that most of them didn't read beyond the instructional sticky post on their favorite muscle forum. I once talked with a fine fellow who was taking some heavy shit to loose weight under the guidance of some dodgy junior team coach. The dude could not even pronounce the name of the stuff he was taking. Most people unfortunately need to be protected from themselves.

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.
  • 1 1
 @HB208: I was just thinking about that yesterday. Body builders are strong, but generally not healthy when it comes to their vascular and respiratory systems because they never do cardio. I truly believe that endurance athletes (cyclists, runners, swimmers, cross country skiers, etc) are the healthiest group of people because they are constantly working their vascular and respiratory systems.
  • 3 0
 @tacklingdummy: Unfortunately the whole crashing thing in MTB does not really help with overall healthiness.
  • 1 1
 @Konyp:Sorta. Out of my group of friends that all ride hard, we usually get through a season without any major injuries other than some bad bruising. Plus, often body builders wreck their knees and back AND carrying around a ton of weight is not good for you when you age.
  • 4 2
 @Konyp: All I mean is that prohibition makes it more likely for my son to take too much of good juice in the future to boil it down like that. I would love him to try Psylocybin too when he is at that age too ( 12 more years haha) but damn, If he gets shrooms from someone else than me, I want them to come from facility being under scrutiny of state. That is especially important with synthetics. I don't want him to burn the house down when cooking DMT. I want him to be able to go to a form of a clinic to try it. Nor I want him to try Molly on fkng Ibiza coming from a guy with died hair called Mickey Klaus. I'd prefer him to try weed in one of places like those in Rotterdam or in Portland. Off course it's his life and he'll possibly get drunk and pee and sick all over himself when introduced to alcohol (10 cans of some piss beer possibly) rather than sip single malt with the grand dad... It has to do with safety and it has to do with using it with respect to what the hell he is taking Big Grin
  • 3 2
 @tacklingdummy: pure cardios also run into their own issues. Pun intended. Many get overuse injuries, and if they do too much of steady state... they get issues with heart too. I mean it's extremely easy to alleviate with sprints and intervals but some won't do it. They also lose lots of muscle in the process and when sht goes down, like chemotherapy, muscle mass helps in recovery. I often wonder how did we get to the point where a marathon runner looking like he juts escaped from concentration camp, is considered as one of role models of healthy lifestyle. I know some of these people and must say that they don't look good. Especially 50+ triathletes. One of them gets his bones broken on MTB all the damn time. Lifting heavy increase bone density. If anything older folks lose ability to produce power. You may keep lifting some iron but it's tough with time to use that strength outside of the gym
  • 1 0
 @justwaki: True. There are diminishing returns for sure. The older you get you have to balance. It is hard to slow down and get out of the "push to absolute limits hulk mentality" when you are an elite endurance athlete. Pushing tall gearing up steeps all the time can be detrimental to joints for sure. However the older I get, the more I think it is better to do lighter workouts more often with some duration, mixing in lighter strength training, and if in really good shape then some interval workouts. The older you get, I think the more important to try to keep the vascular, respiratory, blood sugar management, and weight systems in good running order. With all being more aware to do workouts a little easier on the joints.
  • 3 2
 @tacklingdummy: I messed up my SI joint for over a year after going from 120kg DL to 180kg in 3.5 month... I know Big Grin Hard gears are like desserts - delicious and not that harmful when served in right dosage in right moment. But there are differetn muscle/bone structures among population, some have it easier than others to crank in a particular way.
  • 1 0
 @justwaki: Agreed. Some people just have iron-clad joints, some not so much.
  • 1 0
 @pourquois-pas: you forgot mountain biking
  • 3 0
 @conoat: Seriously? They do. The UCI does. Every major sport does. The thresholds are low. There are cisgendered women who can't pass T tests to compete in women's sports. Clearly this isn't an issue that affects you personally, or you'd know that, so I don't think you need to be upset about it, either.
  • 2 1
 @HB208: I agree with you. I think we just misunderstood each other. I didn’t mean that Body Building is healthy by default. Especially since those who go deep into it rarely do cardio afraid it will mess up their metabolic cycles and limit protein synthesis. One doesn’t need much cardio to balance it out either. Issues are many. But every training type has issues. Crossfit - shitty form and too much focus on fatigue, but good cardio and rather good musculature, good power. Power lifting - too much focus on strength, all the muscle, little ligament. Oly - how about a bar on your head or neck.

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
  • 2 1
 @HB208: It wasn't the gear that got Ronnie.....It was the amount of weight he threw around.... He has a family history of back issues....And he would do it all over again... Most older bodybuilders are doing just fine... Even the strongest bodies have weak points whether you lift or not
  • 76 18
 Who cares if he's doping at that age. Christ it probably just makes him feel even somewhat normal. I'm 12 years younger and could probably use most of that just to get out of bed.
  • 56 3
 He can do what he likes in a private setting as long as it is not hurting anyone else but he was competing and just because it is not the top level of the sport doesn't mean it is ok to cheat. The other people he was racing against who raced clean are in the same age category and didn't feel the need to take a pharmacy worth of drugs to feel normal. Normal for someone over 50 is to have to take care of their body, to take longer to recover and to be slower and less powerful than they were at 25, that's why we have age categories.
  • 48 16
 He's 52, leave the guy alone, I more interested to see if it worked!
  • 32 14
 My thoughts exactly. Dudes not trying to make any money.

I’d be more irritated with the sand baggers in the non masters categories.
  • 41 0
 @mark4444: On the next Privateer: Fully Juiced
  • 22 7
 @onemanarmy: If he is not trying to make any money what is the point of f*cking up the racing for all the other people in his category? He is ruining his body and the experience of the others for no benefit just so he can feel like a badass beating other 50 year olds. At least the tour de france cheats make a fortune out of it.
  • 5 0
 @chriskneeland: Ha! I would watch it... at least then the privateer would have a chance.
  • 20 5
 People have zero understanding of PEDs on here obviously. Steroids will not kill you, they will not make you unhealthy and if used properly will improve your life immensely. The problem is similar to illegalizing abortion, once you start some back alley medal services, people die. The guy at the gym selling you a dufflebag of horse pills isn't the same as a doctor.
  • 4 3
 mlheureux: I seriously doubt that he feels anywhere near normal. What goes up must come down. It's only a question how long it takes and how hard you crash.
  • 3 1
 @Patrick9-32: it’s sick as f*ck to be jacked
  • 2 6
flag funboi-parisi (Apr 23, 2021 at 8:35) (Below Threshold)
 @RonSauce: ok man
  • 4 1
 @kleinblake: No question, but it is whack as f*ck to cheat in competition.
  • 5 1
 Imagine being banned from masters amateur racing... how humiliating and emasculating, just like the side effects of steroids hah! #phrasing!
  • 7 0
 @RonSauce: "Steroids will not kill you, they will not make you unhealthy and if used properly will improve your life immensely."

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?
  • 4 2
 @mark4444: not sure if it worked, but it looks like it may have had some adverse psychological effects judging from his IG (www.instagram.com/ridedh1).
  • 2 0
 @onemanarmy: this shit. I once accidentally registered and raced in Sport. I am a fast Expert/medium pro 40+. I felt dumb as f*ck when I realized it and was standing on the podium over 2min faster than second place in 22min of racing. lmao.
  • 6 3
 @Patrick9-32: Suppose I'd be pissed if I was racing against him. But the reality is... if you're over 50 and you're not on some form of testosterone support you're a fool. A lot of the stuff he's getting tagged for are available in over the counter supplements.

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.
  • 1 0
 @conoat: Surprised you didn't get knee capped. Ha.
  • 2 1
 @RonSauce: Username checks out
  • 1 1
 @Patrick9-32: ever heard the saying, "If you aint cheating you aint tryin!" lol
  • 4 0
 @RonSauce: "If used properly" - for most people this would probably mean regular visits to an endocrinologist, it's easy to think you know exactly what you're doing when you've read a few websites and get lucky with side effects etc
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
  • 2 0
 @rodponton: Hahaha when you scroll down ha's bricked the f*ck up at 52, they definitely work.
  • 1 1
 @Patrick9-32: None of those drugs are gonna help him in racing.
  • 1 0
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: Strong upper body and core can be a major factor in DH racing, so long as you maintain your mobility.
  • 3 0
 @jayacheess: Especially against non steroidal 50 year olds
  • 2 1
 Sure, but look how big the guy is, based on his Instagram. That size is going to be detrimental to racing. Yes testosterone and other substances he took that are on the band list would help, but this particular individual it’s not winning races because of them@jayacheess:
  • 4 0
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: He is absolutely winning races with the help of those substances. Size isn't nearly as much of a detriment in DH racing, and especially in the shorter regional DH race courses that don't require as much cardio endurance as, say, mont St. Anne. The added upper body strength, however, would absolutely be an advantage against other non-juicing 50 year olds.

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.
  • 3 1
 @SterlingArcher:
Humiliating and Emasculating are the names Cyril uses around the office for you and Mallory...
Well... At least that's what Pam said.
  • 2 0
 @Dropthedebt: careful... you’re entering the danger zone
  • 2 0
 @SterlingArcher: Beer
  • 1 0
 @jayacheess: you should net take PEDs and compete, thats cheating.

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.
  • 2 0
 @RonSauce: The guy in question was not taking PEDs on advice and oversight from a doctor. We're talking about two completely different things.
  • 2 0
 @jayacheess: why he was taking them doesn't change the fact that you are overreacting about the deadlines. Dude is 52 and using 10 different drugs with zero doctor oversight and he isnt dead is he? Imagine with proper oversight. Plus, who said he wanst getting his drugs on advice from a professional?
  • 1 0
 @RonSauce: I didn't say they were deadly.

"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.
  • 1 0
 @iridedj: Yeah, not gonna argue about whether a regimen like that helps you get jacked.
  • 1 0
 @Patrick9-32: I read his statement and am giving him the benefit of his word beings they didn’t urine test him or blood test him. They just took the word of an anonymous tip. He had to fly to Norway for arbitration. Now who has that time or money? It’s funny how you’re guilty without proof these days
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: If you read his statement you wouldn’t be so quick to guilt. No blood or urine test? That’s pretty f*cked up for him if you ask me. Not one comment about how he could be innocent.
  • 2 0
 @billt4this: Dude is straight jacked. I'm sure it's possible but not likely. He wouldn't have admitted guilt if he was innocent.
  • 1 1
 @onemanarmy: The dude had two options if it is true that the American drug enforcement authorities would try a case of drug taking by an American athlete in American competitions only in Norway without any remote options in 2021: Admit guilt and get banned from competition or protest his innocence and get banned from competition. There was no reason to admit guilt if he wasn't guilty.

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?"
  • 63 9
 this dude it probably a gym rat, who was just taking all of this to be big/fit, almost none of this is going to help cycling in anyway except to recover easier. I would bet my money that he's a meat head who also likes to ride and race.

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.
  • 30 1
 He did get trophies and prizes though, that's the issue here. You're right it's very clear he wasn't thinking about cycling when choosing his supplementation, but he still entered regulated races knowing full well it'd get him banned if he got popped.

On a side note, it's a bit stick-up-the-butt to say "Pinkbike will not get it" Wink Judging by the comments, most people here know exactly what that stack was for. It's not as niche as you'd like to think.
  • 16 0
 dudes like this wouldn't get tested unless someone reported them. VERY, very few amateurs get tested unless they either get reported by another racer or they file a TUE that is rejected. what's even stranger is his sample is from 10 years ago, (June 16, 2010). so he failed a drug test 10 years ago, then someone this year reported him for the other substances.
  • 6 5
 So what argument are you making here? Since he only taking it to be big and fit in the gym he's not a total douche?
  • 4 0
 I think it's probably more important to keep the amateur side of a sport "clean".

No issue with him taking gear, issue is with cheating.
  • 11 2
 @sino428: there’s just plenty of people here acting like it’s some kind of mystery why a guy in his 50s is doping and the simple reason is that doing drugs and being swol is tight
  • 11 5
 @aerob: It's funny to people are talking about how he's ruining his body to get a 5 dollar trophy, but no one is mentioning how another guy wanted the 5 dollar trophy so bad he reported a fellow rider, possibly getting him in trouble with real authorities.
  • 6 3
 @iridedj: Oh no, a meathead taking a bunch of banned substances got caught! What horrors!
  • 8 5
 @scott-townes: he didn't get caught, a fellow competitor reported him. I have no problem with someone using a banned substance in an what essentially equates to a beer league with zero physical consequences, zero financial compensation and considering he wasn't even using the substances to win, he just happened to want to race while using banned substances.
  • 47 5
 52?! Dude let it go
  • 19 0
 LOL! 52 is the new 32, young man!
  • 32 0
 Speak for yourself, I'm gonna be 82 riding my graphene bike that's bluetooth synced to all my artificial joints and the airbag system that will keep me alive in case I crash.
  • 14 0
 @artistformlyknowasdan:
Never let go! Until the last beat of my heart. I'm 62.
  • 8 0
 Woah woah woah! They busted him all the way back to 2010, so he was in the highly competive Dads in Their 40s class back then. Whole other ballgame.
  • 3 0
 @microfiz: lol... I've still got a ways to go and I don't even feel like I'm 32. LOL! Maybe I need some of what this dudes taking.
  • 1 0
 @cxfahrer: exactly, never let go. but without drugs please.
  • 2 0
 @cxfahrer: clearly you've never seen Napoleon Dynamite and Uncle Rico
  • 34 1
 "Ok dude what do you want?"

"Testosterone?"
"Nandrolone?"
"DHEA?"
"Somatropin?"
"Ipamorelin?"
"Mimetics?"
.
.
.

Dude: "Yes!"
  • 2 8
flag vhdh666 (Apr 23, 2021 at 9:58) (Below Threshold)
 who's going to pay for the "damage" for this one guy when it goes wrong.
the health insurance which we all pay into?
ridiculous
  • 4 0
 @vhdh666: tell that to all the smokers and fat people first, please
  • 1 0
 @Stokedonthis: too true
  • 41 6
 OR shoulda just bought an e-bike
  • 21 0
 He went for the e-body instead.
  • 5 0
 @nozes: more like the t-body.
  • 30 0
 "How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains," Uncle Rico
  • 22 0
 OK, I'll be disappointed if i find his pics and he's not an absolute unit on all that gear Big Grin


Obviously didn't take it to improve his riding, but rather to get swole, but oh well. Could have simply not entered sanctioned races.
  • 2 0
 The best comment yet
  • 2 0
 @endoguru: Cheers dude Smile BTW, I'm not disappointed after all. He's jacked AF. And seems skilled on the bike too. Just shouldn't compete in anything official.
  • 1 2
 A lot of that helps with speed of recovery while training. Easier to build and maintain fitness. It's not really helping him the day of... helps him train for the day of. Only thing that's gonna help him day of is a pile of cocaine.
  • 1 0
 @onemanarmy: never considered that, but would be pretty dang fun for a race day
  • 24 2
 I kind of question the decision to publish this guy's name. I mean, he's just some random guy taking a doping cocktail. How is this any different than the (loooong) list of people that get nabbed every day for shooting heroin, abusing prescription opioids, or running lines of blow in some restaurant bathroom? By all means, ban him from racing, but hyping this on the pinkbike front page with his name attached seems... wrong.
  • 17 3
 100% This is just some random 50 Year old guy with complete agency over his own body who wants to be jacked. All the drugs mentioned would not help him in racing, if anything the extra muscle mass will be a hindrance. Shame on pink bike for releasing his name and the ignorant pink bike users throwing him under the bus
  • 4 2
 I think the issue is that he is not just some random guy. No issues with him ripping his trails doped on testosterone. But, he decided to race against others doped up and broke the rules. Racing dirty is not ok, even on the amateur level.
  • 3 1
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: No issue with him wanting to be jacked. But, there is a problem with him racing against clean competitors. Maybe there needs to be a "racing dirty" category. Wink
  • 4 2
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: Having said all that, publicly shaming him on the internet is a pretty big thing in today's climate. Personally I would have thought long and hard before doing that. Not sure what the right answer is there. But, "dirty racer" did all this knowing he could be exposed and did it anyways.
  • 9 1
 @EuroinSF: Him being banned is totally fine, and to be expected. But running an article on him in the biggest mountain bike media platform with people linking his instagram completely unnecessary
  • 4 1
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: except he's racing...
  • 5 1
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: exactly. People are linking to his strava profile, his roots and rain results, etc. I'm sure this article will soon be the first result if you Google his name.

That's fairly harsh for some random amateur that doped. I'm pretty sure there are some doping pros that got off easier.
  • 24 0
 Pffff only 10 substances? Amateur indeed ...
  • 22 1
 These officials cant understand that hes taking hormonal transition therapy. He's transitioning from male to ALPHA MALE
  • 24 4
 This is why I don't race... Because weed is awesome.
  • 18 0
 Damn son. Master's class getting cut throat! Big Grin
  • 13 0
 Fooking Vahe, no wonder you're so jacked. I think we all kinda suspected lol.
  • 5 0
 Also, not entirely surprised!
  • 13 0
 There's so much wrong going on in that picture with the syringe...
  • 2 0
 Yeah. For one steroids are typically intramuscular injections in the glute area.
  • 5 0
 @Dustfarter: Any well landmarked intramuscular site will work - eg. delts, quads etc. In addition, that's a nasty big air bubble in the syringe. Injecting an air bubble intravenously can have some catastrophic results.
  • 11 2
 The hell is with photos of injections being the go-to for news stories even remotely related to drugs. Exactly what I want to fuckin look at when I'm perusing bike content. It's like stock mosquito images every single time a disease is in the news.
  • 4 2
 U sound upset
  • 4 6
 @jamessmurthwaite This^ . Editors should really consider not posting injection pictures for every damn article related to vaccines or doping. Some people have serious phobias of needles and injections. I'm personally not offended but when my partner sees these photos she freakin loses it.
  • 9 0
 Well, at least he can say he some sort of mountain biking record now that most pro's will never touch.
  • 5 0
 This comment string is exactly what I needed. There's some gold in here. For what it's worth, I'm onboard with amateurs of all levels getting investigated and sanctioned. I'm sure a lot of us here have been soundly beaten in our amateur events by some suspicious performances and it's nice to see someone getting caught. Hopefully this sends a message to others. Or maybe it's just sour grapes that 51 year old me I got crushed in the last Zwift race....
  • 7 2
 In his defense, he was just trying to channel his inner Lance Armstrong Smile

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
  • 2 0
 Whi said he had no idea what he was doing? The long term affects of all of that is known.
  • 7 2
 This dude is literally in my hood and I've never heard of him. There have been rumors about older guys around here (mainly XC) using some extra help.
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 Smile
  • 8 2
 Slow news day? Why is this even an article? Of course what he did is wrong on so many levels.. but does Pinkbike have a personal vendetta w this guy? Seems a bit like doxing to me..
  • 6 1
 I remember an interview with Cedric Gracia where he said doping wouldn't be worth the risk to a pro, but that amateurs are taking anything you can think of. This guy's taking everything I can think of and then some
  • 6 7
 Every top level athlete is on somekind of drugs, be it EPO, HGH or Test.
  • 7 1
 @NotNamed: Actual top level athletes are tested so often that the stuff they are on is not the stuff you have heard of. It has to be the stuff that not even the UCI has heard of.

There is doping at the top level of sports but it isn't easy to get away with anymore, it isn't the 80s.
  • 1 2
 @Patrick9-32: Nope, there are a lot of substances that a test wont see... And a piss test even worse.

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
  • 8 0
 Come on guys...don't be naive...Doping is RAMPANT in amateur competition.
  • 9 2
 Vahe is a good guy......now maybe he can become famous and bang one of the Kardashians.
  • 4 0
 Fearless is right Vahe is a good dude and a rad personality, seems a bit overkill probably a ploy by USADA to scare some folks especially at such a low level of competition.
  • 2 0
 i hope it's kourtney. she's the cutest.
  • 6 0
 My biggest question here is why did Matt Wragg need to ensure he got credit for that photo? I really don't care if a 52 year old ameteur did some drugs and got caught.
  • 6 2
 I mean what the point of dragging this dude.... Clearly it didn't work juicing... Otherwise he'd would have made some renound right? Dude was juicing for ten years and never made it out of a local amateur circuit..... Yeah leave him alone and keep letting him juice. Just needs it to keep up at this point..
  • 9 2
 I just checked his Strava --I know creepy AF. Zero KOMS LOL.
  • 4 2
 I somewhat know the guy. He was taking the stuff for body building. Chill with all that
  • 4 1
 It's possible he could just be a dude who can't accept aging. It's tough going out to do things and knowing that they used to be easy, but never will be again. It's hard to accept that you're past your prime when what you love doing requires so much strength and fitness. It's hard to accept that you'll get weaker and there's nothing but drugs that you can do about it.
  • 21 2
 Though entering competitions turns it from "sad non-acceptance of aging" to "total dick move."
  • 9 2
 His biggest mistake was not being on the Yeti team first.
  • 1 1
 OUCH! Got 'em! lol
  • 4 1
 I know Varhey and never liked that he was using. But steroids are addictive and he wanted to look good for the ladies. Honestly adding more muscle weight for DH doesn’t make sense i am built like polar bear and that weight works against you. So I dont think he gained any advantage in his races from use. If anything it probably slowed him down. This article assumes he was using so he could win a shitty little race at a shitty venu fontucky. Thats just stupid. So to all the jackass that are calling him names look at yourself your dumb as a door nail. Varhey just wants to be admired like you me and everyone else. I rarely post in the comments but this guy would give you the shirt off of his back. Vahey is a good man. So calm down dumb asses
  • 1 0
 He said they didn’t even blood or urine test him. So how is it that he’s guilty?
  • 5 0
 His instagram is ‘ridedh1’

The guy clearly uses steroids to get jacked, not to win races lol
  • 2 0
 Taking test for low T is one thing, this guy is taking bucket load of crap. This isn't therapy but a full blown cycle. Also, wtf is up with the picture pinkbike, he's not shooting freaking heroine! You don't inject test or hgh into your veins! You would never inject at that spot!! Come on!
  • 7 0
 Human pincushion.
  • 6 0
 What an idiot, should have just gotten an ebike LMAO
  • 4 0
 How does taking all this do anything to make you a better DOWNHILL rider? Even World Cup guys aren't walking around looking like Arnie in his prime.
  • 3 1
 Yea I’d think XC or Enduro riders would have more to gain but downhill requires skills and confidence before fitness or strength. The later certain helps, but my guess is he wasn’t taking the gear to win races, he was taking it to look and feel young.
  • 7 0
 It'd be cool if there was one DH racer who was like 6'8 and absolutely jacked and his entire strategy was going through everything, just plows through the lips of jumps and tunnels out the other side
  • 5 0
 @PHeller: yeah, his stack doesn't scream "cycling cheat" its obviously some gym rat gear.
  • 2 0
 @T4THH: I genuinely laughed out loud at my desk imagining what you described in my head. Someone needs to make it happen!
  • 1 1
 Its not just about looking like a body builder. Look at the Instagram pages of many enduro and DH riders and what do you see? Many are filled with pics and videos of them in the gym lifting weights. They do this because building muscle and adding strength is highly beneficial to what they do and taking drugs like this make doing tat easier.
  • 1 0
 @sino428: Pro Enduro and DH racers are lifting weights and putting in max efforts sprints, for sure. But are they really pushing things to a freak level like you see in Tour De France, American football, Olympic sprinting, etc? It doesn't seem that way to me. And if you aren't pushing to a freak level then drugs are pointless.
  • 2 0
 If strength was everything in DH riders like Hart, Courdurier and Hannah would never win a race against their larger more muscular competitors. I think it's a combination of things, and strength and fitness can give a good rider the added ability to train longer and harder to develop skills to become that great rider. However, Balance, reaction time, line choice at race speed, and just general bike handling skills might be a purely genetic thing that no amount of strength or fitness or performance enhancer will really improve, at least overnight.

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.
  • 1 0
 Have you seen Richie Rude??
  • 1 0
 @TuTh-rider: yes, whats your point?
  • 6 0
 Sounds more like an anti-aging protocol from a TRT clinic
  • 5 0
 Wtfff really cheating at Fontana? Legit that’s like just people kicking it and having fun
  • 2 0
 Just go out and ride your bike. Race it...ride it...no matter. Just get out and ride. I'm 43 today, and just happy I am capable enough to still ride my bike. I race, but for fun. I like the crowd (most of them) and some fun competition. I don't take myself too seriously and it works for me.
  • 1 0
 Happy birthday!
  • 2 0
 F**k dopers. I raced Cat. 2 on the road in the late 90's early 2000's. Even at local or regional races, there'd be tuned up Euro-pros and Postal riders on a regular basis. It took a sport I loved and made it miserable-racing clean when 4-6 of those guys showed up meant struggling to finish the race.

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.
  • 2 0
 Doping ruined bike racing in the 90’s? Weren’t bike racers blowing up their hearts with speed in the 60’s?

If you’re into fairness, sports may not be for you.
  • 3 1
 I know Vahe. Super rad dude who will be the first one to pick you up for a shuttle with the homies. All of you PB commenters commenting about anything for Strava, probably the same people who say Rampage looks to easy yet have never stepped foot on the mountain. The rules were broken YES. Though it should be considered that this type of cycle is also known to help massive injuries and trauma which Vahe definitely suffers from, help support the massive vertebrae surgery he has had to have. No ill intentions. I just think the triggered should consider that.
  • 5 0
 Who was advising him on his usage, Keith Richards?
  • 1 0
 No,i think Ozzy is better suited for that
  • 11 10
 “What’d you do today honey?”
“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.
  • 5 0
 don't bring a knife to a gunfight and don't bring drugs to a bike fight
  • 1 0
 Anyone who follows the advice of these "Internet Doctors" deserves all the pain and suffering and disqualifications they get. If you are looking for sage medical advice, go to a real doctor. Or if you insist on using the internet, DONT GOOGLE OR BING MEDICAL terms. Search engines get paid to feed you advertisements, like for pills that they want to sell you. Find a good medical site related to Sports or Kidneys or Cancer and look for info there.

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.
  • 1 0
 wait... are they claiming that busting a 52year old armature a win???
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.
  • 2 0
 Lead pic of injection is tabloid level journalism, click bate. Broadcasting this is lame. Vahe is a very cool dude, rode his bike for fun. This whole thing is sad, leave him alone.
  • 4 0
 *Lance Armstrong has left the server*
  • 2 0
 You gotta do what you gotta do when you face the WALL at Fontana! He probably bought the drugs in the parking lot before the race.
  • 1 0
 That pic is so wrong none of that stuff gets injected like that, Wow cuz of a snitch always! Nothing wrong living the enhanced life so many people do it. Anywho Good LUCK BRO!
  • 4 0
 That's rockstar level drug abuse. I hope he won AND looked good doing so!
  • 3 0
 This is comical. An amateur that motivated to win amateur events was doping. Lol.
  • 4 2
 Looking at his race results, dude needs more drugs, guess he heard I’d turned 50 and was racing #GrandVetPro

www.rootsandrain.com/rider17397/vahe-aivazian/results
  • 2 0
 The craziest thing about your link is this dude has been actively racing every year since NORBA was still a thing!
  • 4 0
 52? ...In four years he'll be racing e-bikes.
  • 4 0
 There's no drugs in cycling........... Only AAAAAALLLL the drugs
  • 1 0
 I'm no doctor but if anyone were to inject in the blood stream with an air bubble in the syringe, as shown in the photo, they would pretty much die as soon as they pumped the bubble into their vein.
  • 3 0
 52 years old. Just givin'er on all levels to win $200.00 and a bottle of chain lube at a bike race or two. "Goals".
  • 4 0
 How does he sit down with balls that shrunken...?
  • 2 0
 Be like 2 dry roasted in a soggy kleenex
  • 7 3
 At least he’s not riding an ebike...
  • 4 0
 Had no idea all that was in coconut Redbull
  • 4 0
 Middle aged 52 y/o from Cali doping. I doubt that’s a rare thing.
  • 1 0
 52 years old and taking a host of drugs that could render early mortality or disease for ... bicycles?

Time for him to talk a serene walk around a duck pond and reevaluate his life.
  • 3 0
 Shit, does this mean I have to stop having a joint when I’m out on the trails!
  • 1 0
 Some of the peptides aren’t band like BPC-157 which heals connective tissue 4 times faster than naturally. Got a feeling every rider will be on that soon. Their all injured enough!
  • 3 0
 Thats enough dope to make even Ricky and Julian blush
  • 3 0
 Stock photo doper going for an air embolism, nice.
  • 1 0
 "No embolisms were sustained in the production of this photo" .
  • 3 0
 Human growth hormone he was a bodybuilder not a cyclist Big Grin
  • 2 0
 I wanna see a picture of this guy, no way he was running that fat of a cycle and didn't look it too lol
  • 2 0
 Looks like a pretty standard anti-aging protocol for middle age guys trying to stay in shape.
  • 2 0
 Someone put me in touch with this guy. I'm 41 and it sounds like he's got what I'll be needing here shortly! Smile
  • 4 0
 Man he likes dope
  • 1 0
 what he said
  • 11 10
 I feel bad for this dude. All it says is "amateur racer" for all we know he is just a regular old gym rat who decided to race an enduro on a lark.
  • 7 0
 "Vahe raced widely in the US domestic scene and has racked up wins and podiums at the Fontana Winter Series, SoCal Enduros and Snow Summit DH Series in his age category."
  • 2 2
 @ridealltheb1kes: I only read the title, you got me lol.
  • 2 0
 @skerby: im at work otherwise i wouldnt have read any of it :-D
  • 3 0
 Feel bad or embarrassed for the dude? At 52 what the heck is he expecting, Fox sponsorship? Crazy...
  • 3 0
 KOM’s don’t drug test....
  • 4 0
 I just check his Strava and he actually has zero KOMs
  • 6 0
 @GlazedHam: damn, this guy really sucks at cheating!
  • 3 0
 Did an amatuer write this headline?
  • 3 0
 that is some shopping list
  • 3 0
 Gotta win that Sport CA enduro series title
  • 3 0
 I mean pedal-assist became a thing...why not pharma-assist?
  • 1 0
 so this stuff works. I remember reading about Barry Bonds's stuff, that his eyesight was much improved by the roids. I could be into that.
  • 4 0
 Was he riding a Yeti?
  • 2 0
 How Rude!!
  • 2 1
 If you want to win so bad and are willing to cheat why not just say you identify as a woman and go win the female category races?
  • 2 1
 I was knocked down the podium by a known doper in a community race. Hope the douche felt like a big man after doping his way to winning that extra t-shirt.
  • 3 0
 This is the real friday fail.
  • 3 0
 Glad he wasn't using Adrenochrome
  • 1 0
 deep reference.
  • 1 0
 Surely at 52 years old he needs all the help he can get! Let him go wild and see if he can get any uci points to race downhill world cups!
  • 1 0
 The fact that he got sanctioned means he wasn't trying to keep it a secret and he was enough of dick that somebody bothered to go after him.
  • 1 0
 The picture is all wrong... steroids are typically injected into fatty tissue —- not like the junkie shot leading this story...
  • 1 0
 (if captioned correctly) There is a actually a nice action shot of him on vital and a podium shot of him here on pinkbike
  • 2 0
 Masters Sport class must be getting competitive...
  • 3 0
 Miso soup
  • 5 3
 LOL. what a loser. 52 years old and doping like that.
  • 2 0
 His Instagram explains a lot
  • 2 0
 Totally worth it! 'Cause you know Kim in accounting was really impressed.
  • 2 0
 Pretty aggressive article photo!
  • 4 2
 lol who cares, at 52, the HGH and test is probably doctor prescribed.
  • 2 1
 I love seeing all the hate on T supps and TRT. Clowny feeling on this Fail Friday morning 'round here.
  • 1 0
 Let me correct this:
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...
  • 2 0
 Was he winning at least? shit sounds expensive
  • 2 0
 Who cares about racing that much?
  • 2 0
 I want to know how they caught him...
  • 5 3
 Middle aged men are just sad when they can't face reality.
  • 2 0
 52 years old, I guess Viagra isn't on the banned substance list...
  • 2 0
 52 and still chasing the dream...
  • 2 0
 Lotta outraged commenters got the “gear” lingo down. Solid.
  • 1 0
 Breaking News: Disney+ hired Vahe Aivazian to replace Bucky Barnes as the new Winter Soldier.
  • 1 0
 Amature gets banned 4 years. Gee I wonder what happened if I do that in EWS...
  • 1 0
 If it's good enough for Sly Stallone it's good enough for Amateur Downhill & Enduro!
  • 2 1
 Here he is.
instagram.com/ridedh1?igshid=ngzyc2d91l1c

I heard he wants to know what you think of this story?
  • 1 0
 How much money would all of this cost and how do you even get your hands on it?
  • 1 0
 a lot. and get chummy with the huge dudes at the gym.
  • 1 0
 Jeepers, that’s a lot of gear! What ever happened to the good old fashioned Belgian pot?
  • 2 0
 he's the only one that got caught
  • 2 0
 Sh!t I’m sure some of ur close friends r juicing. Racers edge.
  • 2 0
 None of those drugs are as deadly as the huge air bubble in that syringe.
  • 1 1
 Who cares, what did he loose....some ribbons a belt buckle and a couple beer mugs. Woopity soooooo. Meanwhile far more serious things.
  • 1 0
 I used to work on this guy's bike and he was always name drop who he rode with everytime he was in the shop.
  • 2 0
 This dude most of had a beach body ..probably race with no jersey on!!
  • 2 0
 On the bright side, he was negative on the COVID test.
  • 1 0
 That's one way to announce your MTB retirement. Doing a 12 step program in "one shot" here on PB.
  • 2 0
 If you get caught, you are not winning!
  • 1 1
 Blame the sport for allowing O.A.P’s on the down hill trails..try viagra next time dude lol
  • 1 0
 HCG? That's one of the things pregnancy tests look for...
  • 2 1
 He just wanted to be like Richie
  • 1 0
 I see him at a lot of races. He known more for crashing than winning.
  • 1 0
 He's won f#ck all what a waste of money
  • 1 0
 Sad for you, was it worth it......
  • 3 2
 USADA, ruining dreams since 2000.
  • 1 0
 Jabbin the arm huh? Better add some other substances to that list lol
  • 2 0
 Enduro Bro!!!
  • 9 9
 I mean this is sad, but also like, the other old dude who ratted him out is definitely equally if not more sad right?
  • 11 3
 dude, I would rat him out too for health concerns. that list of drugs is just a lethal soup. IMO he should see a therapist on why hes trying to dope himself that much for an amateur race.
  • 7 1
 Probably Lopes.
  • 5 0
 If he's not "ratted" how is fairness preserved in the category?
  • 7 2
 @Gamertebo: you have no idea about his dosages and I would I have a guess you actually don’t know what any of those drugs are or do. This guy just wanted to be jacked in his 50s and is now getting raked over the coals by ignorant people on pink bike.
  • 2 2
 @skiandmtbdirtbag: Even if i don`t know the dosage, the problem here lies with the COMBINATION. Most of these drugs are tested with specific single use. When you mix Ipamorelin, GHRP-6 and IGF1 your growth hormone factor is THROUGH the roof, don`t get me started on what that does on your thyroide gland,
  • 2 2
 @Gamertebo: You called it a lethal soup. You have no idea how much of each of those things he is taking. Do you have any idea how much and what combo a significant proportion of amateur gym goers are on, the shit is everywhere, and more people die driving to the gym than from steroids. Is that combo good for you? No, but neither is three beers a night.
  • 3 1
 The only way to break the Omerta of doping is through reporting. And I suspect you've never raced a pro-am or elite level race in your life. I don't race much anymore, but I'd drop that dime in a heartbeat!!
  • 1 0
 Can't see them racing in the WC, There are no more Pierron's sparre
  • 1 0
 Can't see them racing in the WC, There are no more Pierron's spare
  • 1 0
 @jamesmurthwaite small typo in title “amateur”.

Cheers
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
  • 1 0
 I am sure there is a very logical explanation.
  • 1 0
 Hell yeah! Thats how you do it!!
  • 3 2
 E should by a e-mtb cheatbike
  • 2 0
 What a dope.
  • 2 0
 Cheaper than an e-bike?
  • 1 0
 Where are the pics of this gorilla, bet he's ripped af!
  • 1 0
 Ban him Strava! No KOM for you
  • 1 0
 Wow, I didn't realize the enduro field for 50+ was so competitive...
  • 1 0
 Is probably a dentist riding a Yeti.
  • 2 1
 gonadotropin? the balls on him
  • 1 0
 next on brazzers: grandpas gone wild
  • 1 1
 Are not E bikes nothing more than doped up bikes? Maybe they sould have a doped up class for racing?
Wink
  • 2 1
 Hey, If you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin...
  • 2 2
 Holy comments. Suck it old boy. You took victories from people who really earned them. POS.
  • 2 1
 Imagine shrinking your balls into raisins with PED's for AMATEUR racing.
  • 1 0
 None of those drugs sound fun at all.
  • 2 0
 Fookin druggo
  • 1 0
 Maybe the guy just wanted bigger beach muscles...
  • 1 0
 You spent all that money on drugs but should have spent it on a new brain
  • 1 0
 88th place is now available
  • 1 0
 this is dope
  • 10 9
 Anti vaxxer probably
  • 14 1
 "I am not putting some unknown untested garbage into my body.....yes, I will have a bump of coke."
  • 8 4
 If you look at his IG almost defintely an anti-vaxxer.
  • 1 0
 L4D
  • 1 4
 never understood topping ban? why restrict ? take any shit u want to be #1 All athlete use some enhanced drugs they just properly cycle prior competition, any not to admit usage and allow on global level?
  • 2 1
 Ummm....yeah. You have never raced, or never raced pro-am have you buddy? Doping is dangerous, unregulated, expensive, and makes for a very, very unlevel playing field.
  • 1 0
 Did you have a strokes whiles typing?
  • 1 1
 52? Maybe it oughta be more of a pastime for you at this point??
  • 1 0
 GME
  • 1 0
 A good result...
  • 1 0
 Damn dirty dopers.
  • 1 0
 Just WHY??
  • 3 3
 Refused the vaccine though
  • 1 0
 What were his results
  • 1 0
 LLLLLLLLOSER!!!!
  • 1 1
 He's 52. Give him a pass.
  • 2 3
 California you say?! It was probably meth
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