Testosterone effects on the body - why would someone use it in sport?

Many commentators have said that it is pointless for cyclist to take testosterone: While cyclists are obsessed with reducing weight, testosterone actually builds mass. And for testosterone to aid performance, it has to be taken over a period a time.

But there is a school of thought that says that a single application of testosterone can be beneficial to aid recovery:

"You put a standard testosterone patch that is used for male hormone replacement therapy on your scrotum and leave it there for about six hours. The small dose is not sufficient to produce a positive urine result in the doping test, but the body actually recovers faster." --Dr. Kurt Moosburger

It wasn't Landis that won thew tour it was the big teams who lost it Phonak were broke but csc and tmobile should have held him at 4 Min's it would have not been a problem for the peleton we had been stuffed by an American for the past 6 years and guess what we have been stuffed by an American again could we not have come up with something better than a win on default OK his testosterone level was a wee bit high but really quite minimal I think his ratio was 11-1 now really high big T is 100-1 so no big deal

I'm not a medical expert, but it was my understanding that steroids are of no benefit to endurance athletes. In fact, I would think the last thing a cyclist would want to do is "bulk up" to ride over large Alpine passes. Maybe a sprinter like Erik Zabel, or Robbie McEwen would take steroids to be stronger at a sprint finish, but not someone who is serious about winning the overall Tour.

To get an edge over the competition in a bicycle race, a cyclist would be more likely to use a stimulant, or a blood boasting product such as EPO.

On another note, why would Landis take a doping product that is so easy to detect? He would have to be really, really stupid to think he could pass a drug test after taking steroids.

That is the part of the story that is so strange. Steroids take weeks and months to be effective. It is unlikely the use of the drug the night before or that morning would have dramatically enhanced his performance. That is why it makes no sense for him to have done it.

That said, they are always looking for new ways to enhance performance, so no telling what they were trying to do.

Testosterone affect strength and stamina and aid in recovery, and as it is a naturally occuring steroid it would be supplementing his own levels in his body, so I would say yes it is perfectly feasible he could do that.

testosterone induces muscle growth like miracle grow, that's why after working out the body starts to produce more of it.

What's the world coming to when MEN are testing positive for testoserone??! Outrageous!

It brings out the animal in you, an increase in muscular performance.

Recover quicker, have more energy, make his muscles stronger, retain more water, etc.

yes