ESPN writer Shaun Assael explains that the performance enhancing benefits of anabolic steroids are not limited to bodybuilders and powerlifters or athletes where strength and size are important. He informs us why steroids are advantageous for endurance athletes like cylists whose bodyweights are among the lightest of all professional athletes.

The Big Think article discusses the 2008 Tour de France where three riders have tested positive for the banned blood booster Epogen (EPO) and/or CERA and were disqualified from the Tour.  But EPO and CERA are NOT anabolic steroids!

There has not been any news arising from the 2008 Tour de France to suggest that there is a current problem with anabolic steroids. Yet the “Big Think” article does not distinguish between cyclists using EPO and cyclists using anabolic steroids. Is “Big Think” aware that EPO is not an anabolic steroid?! (”The Softer Side of Steroids,” July 18)

The Tour de France was thrown into chaos when Riccardo Ricco was thrown out of the race after testing positive to the blood booster Erythropoietin, otherwise known as EPO. His urine also contained traces of an equally banned substance CERA, according to the New York Times.

Ricco is the dual stage winner who excels specifically in the mountain stages of the race. The positive tests are an unwelcome step backward to a sport trying to rebuild a clean image after the drug scandals of 2005 and 2006.

Steroids are usually associated with the bulky, testosterone-ridden competitors in football and baseball. It may appear odd that cycling has amassed so many cases.

At any rate, Shaun Assael’s discussion about steroids is interesting as he discusses cycling and steroids in the context of the Floyd Landis case. But Assael repeats the allegation that Landis “spiked” testosterone immediately before his miraculous stage comeback at the 2006 Tour de France.

Columnists have repeated the erroneous claim that Floyd “tested high for testosterone.” Technically, this was not the case; his testosterone:epitestosterone ratio was elevated but the metabolite levels were actually low. This does not support the allegation that he used testosterone before the stage; at best it only supports the allegation that his testosterone levels may have been artificially manipulated prior to the doping test.

So, the whole idea that a shot of testosterone or a handful of Andriol immediately before the stage accounted for his incredible comeback is not very well supported. Landis may have very well accomplished this feat with low testosterone levels.