Think the only sketchy athletic performance enhancers used by athletes are steroids? Think again. Stories of athletes using the little blue pill to get a boost outside of the bedroom have been going around since at least 2006, when an American Physiological Society study tested Viagra on cyclists and found that it “significantly improved the cardiovascular and exercise performance measures of trained cyclists at high altitude.” (It didn’t help at all at sea level.)
In 2008, former Olympic physiologist Kenneth Rundell of Marywood University launched a clinical trial to see if sildenafil could help competitors get the edge while exercising in an area with high air pollution. And in 2012, multiple news outlets reported on NFL players taking Viagra before games.
Because Viagra improves blood flow, it’s possible that it could be helpful for athletes — especially those competing at high altitude. And, of course, it’s a lot harder to police “misuse” of bedroom pills like Viagra compared to steroids or amphetamines. This anecdotal evidence doesn’t mean you should abandon your pre-workout powder, though. Medication — particularly prescription medication — should not be used off-label without the support of your doctor.