Black tea can’t hide testosterone use

Sportspeople become more and more sophisticated in application of steroids. They find out new ways to mask their administration of prohibited products. Several sportspersons take time to study researchers’ affirmations that could help them to hide that they dope. Today a method has been discovered: sportspeople can mask usage of testosterone with the help of green tea.
Testosterone is a hormone which is produced in body naturally. Thus, it may be difficult for anti-doping organizations to define that a sportsperson has administered testosterone. T: E ratio testing is commonly utilized by anti-doping organizations. Such tests may manifest unusual ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it doesn’t manifest difference between testosterone that has been secreted in body naturally and that introduced into body with the help of injections, gels, etc.
 Declan Naughton and his colleagues at Kingston University ( London) have found that green tea contains such substances which are called “catechins”. They have ability to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme promotes attaching glucuronic acid to testosterone. In case UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the substances which are able to mask application of testosterone, are contained in green and white tea. Such compounds are not in black tea.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted some experiments. They claim that a cup of strong green tea mask usage of testosterone.
Thus, those athletes that administer testosterone can lower amounts of testosterone which are excreted in urine by consumption of green or white tea. Green or white tea has ability to block excretion of testosterone, enhancing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the specialists. If this process occurs, it is not worthy to apply urine tests. Blood tests should be performed in order to detect testosterone use.
Olivier Rabin, the WADA’s expert, affirms that regular checks of blood steroids will be added. Everything will be done by anti-doping agencies in order to avoid fooling of urine tests.