What happens when an average amateur cyclist (and journalist) takes banned performing-enhancing drugs?

Drug Test - Outside Online

We often hear about why athletes shouldn't use performance-enhancing drugs, but we never hear why they do take them.

As an amateur cross-country skiier and cyclist, Stuart Stevens wanted to find out why these banned drugs are so tempting to professional and elite amateur athletes. He embarked on an 8 month experiment in taking these performing-enhancing drugs. He consulted regularly with a doctor and had prescriptions. While he would have been disqualified from any competition with anti-doping testing, his regimen was legal.

Stevens maintained his training at the same level that he had before this experiment, but the results are amazing. This excellent story is a fascinating look at a side of sports that we hear about, but is always lurking in the shadows.

Originally published by Outside Magazine, the article was republished by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) online, apparently to dissuade athletes from using doping to get ahead.

There is also a streaming interview Stuart Stevens did with NPR.