E said:
I would have to question whether there is really an advantage to using any kind of steroid for a number of months, then have to quit (and go through some level of detox). It's not like they can continue using during the season, at least not in any amount that would be beneficial.
Well, I haven't played football, but in hockey, during the season, you only train to maintain your shape, not improve it. It's during the off-season that you train hard to add body mass and increase your fitness. It's therefore in the off season that steroids would do the most good. What you gain in the off-season, you can in theory maintain with appropriate training during the season with lower level of steroids or even without them at all.
E said:
Are the World Cup (or whatever the governing body is for the World Cup) standards much different?
FIFA use WADA standard, I believe.
Well, I can tell you very few, if any, soccer players use steroids. What would be the point? Becoming bigger and stronger would hinder a soccer player performances. They are all about agility and endurance.
I believe the main illicit drugs use in soccer is EPO. I'm not sure if it's the same acronym in English, but I am referring to the same drug that the cyclists use to increase their red blood cell count and thus improve their endurance.
I'm not sure how efficient their anti-doping program is. They too have random testing for platers after every game (well, for the World Cup at least, I don't follow the regular leagues).
If they want to avoid getting caught, it can't be harder than for cyclists. It is a well known fact that most of the leader in top cyclist competition are on EPO while training and cut off before the competition. The drug is eliminated sooner than its effect. All you can detect after about week is an abnormally high red cell count, and like footbal with testosterone, they place the unlawful level very high indeed.
But the benefical effect can't be maintained through training, the higher red cell count will go down no matter how often you sleep in oxygen tent. So cyclist have to use between major events. Therefore I believe soccer players are amongst the cleanest in the world. Not for moral reason, just for practical ones. Most steroids are pointless for them and EPO is unpractical over the course of a season. But it has to be tempting just before a major competition like the World Cup. Especially if you can be sure you won't be controlled for a month or so before the competition. Like if you are nursing a minor injury...
The most likely drugs they use IMO are over the counter drugs for various breathing ailments. Can't remember the names of these drugs, but I read an article about how common it is for a hockey players to be 'asthmatic' and receive medication for it. Yeah right. As if you can make it to the NHL by being a genuine asthmatics. I can't see why soccer player wouldn't do the same.
