Where are we heading in our sport

Avast started this discussion · 6/18/2012

I started thinking the other day about Pole and how it's getting bigger and bigger and the push to become the best increases. And then I heard about Lance Armstrong and the possible doping charges he may have to face and what have you. My question is: does pole need to look at the possibility of performance enhancing drugs being used in competitions? I'm not saying that people are using them now, but in time as pole gets bigger, I dare say performance enhancing drugs may find their way into our sport. What are your thoughts? I'd hate to see the sport of pole in 5-10 years dominated by just a few folks that just dope up on steroids and leave those that train hard and fair left behind. Poleman Pete.

13 replies

chemgoddess1 · 6/19/2012
Steroids may help with strength increases but they will not help with flexibility or overall performance. I don't care what kinds of "doping" you may do it just will not help with pole. I have never heard of this being an issue with those that dance and I see pole as more of a dance than a strength sport. Now if there was a drug that helped you get crazy flexy we might have a problem!
mspretty1414 · 6/19/2012
I wish there was a drug to help me get crazy flexy I def need it!
chemgoddess1 · 6/19/2012
OMG...I wish too!
dustbunny · 6/19/2012
Maybe not steroids but I have heard of dancers and gymnasts using energy boosting type drugs, because they train for so many hours every week. I definitely don't want to hear about drugs in our sport...although in time, it is bound to happen eventually. Some people just HAVE to be the best, no matter what. I would be really dissapointed if I heard that one of my pole idols (or friends) were taking drugs to make them "better". :(
chemgoddess1 · 6/19/2012
We have to be careful with how we use the term "drug". We injest numerous "drugs" on a daily basis.
poledanceromance · 6/19/2012
Caffeine is a drug and I know of a few pole people who have gotten paid to rep for red bull! Some people definitely use caffeine to a dangerous extent as well. And that 5 hour energy stuff, don't even get me started. And I think we've all seen it repeated that 2 drinks makes you "better" at pole. My point I guess is that even the legal substances people use in conjunction with workouts are still drugs and do have health drawbacks. And each athlete has to weigh what training means to them and if it's more important to get certain gains on a time frame or to train with health always the primary concern and sacrifice quick gains, and that decision affects more than just drug use. But look at Lance Armstrong as a good example, because I think it's impossible to deny that he has the talent, even with steroids he couldn't have won all those titles without the talent and ability as well. In other words ONLY taking steroids would not make me a world champion cyclist. That said I totally agree that what steroids generally do to your body would not be very compatible with succeeding competitively at pole. Even the epic strength gain would certainly not be a magic elixer for pole championship wins because the sport has evolved such that people expect more than just brute strength or high endurance.
aliceBheartless · 6/19/2012
I would hate to see performance enhancing substances become the norm for our sport. I do think that if it gains a typical global platform (ie on the scale of the Olympics) one should expect to see it occur. Because that sort of fierce competition tends to bring out a do anything to win attitude. Its intense. As a former NCAA athlete, I can tell you there are many substances that I was randomly drug tested for, most of which are legal substances but that you are not allowed to have above certain levels in your body. Caffeine is one of them. In fact, if one regularly imbibes (or over-imbibes) in all those many many energy drinks, you just might fail a 'drug test' and caffeine would only be one of the substances that is a problem. I think people commonly think that steroids are the typical 'drugs' that athletes get busted for, but in reality, there are a lot of things out there that enhance performance and most of them are legal substances.
mspretty1414 · 6/19/2012
Lance Armstrong isn't being accused of taking steroids, he's accused of taking an EPO. I'm not saying it was right or wrong, but for the record, it's not a steroid, it's a protein that controls blood cell production and subsequently oxygen delivery (for endurance), not a hydrocarbon. They give it to cancer patients. It did enhance his performance, but it is not a steroid. Chem could probably elaborate on this much better than myself...@Corby--I too was an athlete and you bring up an excellent point, there were supplements from GNC that would make us fail a drug test, but were definately not illegal by any means. Seems to me aptitude and tenacity will get you further in pole than 'doping' anyway. Either way, interesting subject.
vickiezoo · 6/20/2012
Slightly different angle on the subject but ì feel that pole may be veering towards a less dancy phase. Looking at Sarah Scotts winning performance for Miss PD UK and a lot of the more recent pole vids I am seeing on YT. I see more strength moves (pole fitness) and less dancey moves
vickiezoo · 6/20/2012
I hadn't finished, is not a criticism but merely an observation, I am more of a dancey person, prefering the style of Alethea Austin, floorwork.
amy · 6/20/2012
I have heard of pole dancers taking performance enhancing drugs. it's already happening. while brute strength alone isn't generally enough to win a competition, if you have fluidity, interesting combos, or whatever else, and the only thing you feel you are lacking is strength to pull out one or two "big" tricks, what would you do to get there? or, if you are entering pole fitness competitions, where the emphasis is more on the trick work, then would you take a performance enhancing drug? i think drug testing in pole won't occur until the stakes in competitions are high enough that the expense of testing every single performer/competitor is worth the credibility of the competition. i don't see that happening any time soon.
pegasusaerialfitness · 6/20/2012
I would speculate that Pole would follow more of the "fitness figure competition" types of trianing methods. etc..excessive dieting and estrogen lowering type products to help create a leaner figure. Hopefully, we as a Pole community, will be able to maintain the intergrity of the sport and be able to imbrace all aspects of it....grace, strength, flexibilty, (even aging polers should have their spot light), in men and women too. I think many polers out there are very healthy, and imbrace a more holistic lifestyle. I also see in the big competions...that is obvious that the girls are not taking enhancement types of products...just look at their bodies? the skin is not too thin and they maintain their femine features. Look at female figure and body builders....there is an absolute difference in their "look" I'm also curious why so many polers want this in the olympics.. I too want this sport to be respected as a legimate sport and fitness type of endeavor....but there will be A LOT of boundries and rules put on the sport if that happens.. In my opion...do we view Pole as gymnastics (olympic sport) or as a type of Dance (ballet, hip-hop, salsa, tango...ect...these are not olympic sports) I was a gymnast (not olympic of course)....but I view Pole as an artistic type of dance.
chemgoddess1 · 6/20/2012
If we are going to have this conversation we need to understand that not all steroids are created eual just as not all performance enhancers are not illegal. Even different countries differ in what is on their lists. I have friends who have easy access to things that we in the States do not and vice versa. Creatine is highly used and extremely easily accessible but some sports ban its use. It is not illegal in any way. I have not researched a lot about EPO however there are Nitric Oxide enhancers that are all over the place that pretty much do the same thing, just by a different pathway. So if you take protein and creatine and many of the other body building supplements out there are you using science to your advantage or are you creating an unfair advantage over others? If the knowledge is there but others choose not to use it is that your fault or theirs? I remember the interview that Amy did with Marlo and also having talked with Pantera on a few occasions....both of them are on quite strict diets and workout schedules with timed delivery of nutrients to their system. Their physique shows their dedication. Is their hard work and dedication considered "performance enhancing"?