Viagra Puts Athletes in Winners Circle, so to speak

With the Olympics about to start, I thought this story might add a little perspective on what atheles might be doing to prepare. From AP:

Athletes looking for a performance boost are increasingly turning to a little blue pill more usually taken for its off-the-field benefits: Viagra. It isn't clear how many might be taking it in hopes of improving athletic performance, but stashes of the drug have reportedly been found among some professional athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency is currently studying Viagra's effects on athletes, but hasn't yet banned it. Whether Viagra makes athletes faster, higher or stronger is uncertain. Still, some preliminary studies have shown that cyclists taking Viagra improved their performances by up to 40 per cent. Viagra does not work directly on muscles, so will not make athletes physically stronger.

From the Canadian readers perspective, they had a few interesting takes on this new performance drug. I've listed some of the comments following the CBC article. As you can imagine, they had a few one liners:

It couldn't be good for swimmers in the Iron-Man event …Their rudder would drag in the weeds … Hands off my baton! ... Athletes talking viagra are literally getting a head start on the compeition … I can see runners taking Viagra to shave a few inches off their time ... Give's the pole valt a whole new meaning … Hey that;s not your javelin! … I hardly think that two men luge teams will be trying this one .... It will be great to see athletes RISE to the occasion.