Usage of caffeine by athletes

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirms that caffeine should be included in banned medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates affirms that caffeine induces addiction to sleeping tablets and tranquilizers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers that competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games used sleeping tablets Stilnox. Thus, Coates believes that application of caffeine led to usage of Stilnox.
Stilnox is ordinarily sold under the commercial name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy that is used in case of insomnia.
Coates confirms that athletes use caffeine in order to increase performance. Consumption of this substance leads to insomnia. So, sportspersons should apply sleeping tablets in order to treat insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia desire to ban usage of caffeine. It is their response to the disgraceful case connected with Grant Hackett. A physician recommended using Stilnox to this swimmer at the time of the 2003 World Championships. As a result, the athlete became addicted to this sleeping remedy.
Grant Hackett is a prominent swimmer. He won certain competitions, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Alan Thompson, the former coach of the Australian Olympic Team, has also affirmed that intake of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of forbidden products. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to disclose administration of this product.
But as for caffeine, earlier it was prohibited by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and used in society, it was excluded from the list of prohibited products.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, notes that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of forbidden drugs. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of prohibited substances again.
However many experts claim that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this argument. He affirms that caffeine doesn’t impact on performance. He concludes that no any scientific literature describes ability of caffeine to enhance performance.

Dwain Chambers was named representative of Britain at 2012 Olympics

The sprinter Dwain Chambers, who successfully served his 2-year ban for usage of anabolic steroids, was chosen to be the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Chambers worries about the way to represent the home country. As for the British Olympic Association (BOA), they are not happy to see him participating in the 2012 London Olympics. Certain former British Olympians don’t support the steroid user too.
The sprinter administered the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) elaborated by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin elaborated a method that could discover usage of THG, the sprinter tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Undoubtedly, usage of the steroid spoiled his reputation. When he attempted to return to professional sports, the BOA made the decision to alter the laws in order to prevent appearing of the sprinter in the 2012 Olympics. The BOA has introduced the rules which suspend steroid users from Olympics for life-time.
Elaborating this rule, the BOA violated the doping code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This situation caused many disputes and news.
The case was even presented in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The chairman of the BOA Loyd Moynihan put essential efforts in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers or other consumers of steroids at Olympics. Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson, former Olympians, loudly supported efforts of the BOA.
 Daley Thompson claimed that Britain should not compromise. He confirmed that Britain should not listen to the rest of the world that don’t desire to have high standards in sports. The Court of Arbitration for Sports acted on behalf of the WADA. Dwain Chambers was allowed to be the representative of Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. This case turned out to be an open door for other athletes that have served their suspensions to participate in Olympics.
The cyclist David Millar and the shot-putter Carl Myerscough that have served their bans for intake of steroids will compete at the 2012 London Olympics too.
Despites wasting much time to prevent appearing of steroid users at Olympic Games, the BOA ultimately claimed that not only Chambers but also Millar, Myerscough or any other athlete that has served a ban successfully may compete at Olympic Games. Andy Hunt, the CEO of the BOA, has confirmed that any sportsperson is treated the same way.

Austrian authorities helped steroid dealer to arrive to his native country in exchange for one million Euros

Recently a huge steroid ring was busted in Austria. It was discovered that this company received 40 million Euros due to illegal sale of steroids. Mihael Karner was considered to be the leader of the steroid ring. The USA asked Austria to extradite this person to the US. But Mihael Karner avoided the extradition successfully. This man gave one million Euros to Austrian authorities that sent him to Slovenia, his native country.
Slovenia’s laws are not the same as Austrian’s ones. According to the Slovenian Constitution, it is prohibited to extradite Slovenians to another country. Mihael Karner is a lucky person. If he had been extradited to the USA, he could be sentenced to 40-year imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors started the investigation linked with this steroid empire in 2005. The steroid ring began to function earlier. Federal prosecutors discovered that since 2000 till 2008 the company got 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution of steroids.
Federal prosecutors found in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were implicated in illegal distribution of steroids but they couldn’t pursue them because the Karners were in Austria. But later steroid laws in Austria were altered due to suppression by the US. Moreover, the US promoted the arrest of Mihael Karner and his wife.
However the US attempts to enforce other countries of the world to extradite distributors of steroids to the USA, it doesn’t have great success in this area. But the persons that were involved in “Musclebear” and “British Dragon” were extradited from Cyprus and Thailand to the USA. That time the US had a victory.
As for Mihael Karner, the USA believed that the extradition would be successful. That’s why it was a real shock for the US, when it was learnt that Karner arrived to Slovenia safely. Thus, the USA was defeated this time in the war on steroids.

Spelmans can’t convince their son to leave his dreams related to bodybuilding

Caroline Spelman and her husband put efforts in order to prevent publishing news about her son’s intake of steroids. She spent essential sums of money in courts for this need. But as you know, anybody could read the news about the youngest British athlete that was caught applying prohibited preparations and banned from rugby. Anybody expected that Jonny Spelman would thank his parents for the efforts to hide the truth. But the situation turned out to be opposite.
Jonny Spelman desires to become a well-known professional bodybuilder. He desires to get the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for application of steroids, Jonny Spelman was too open. He wrote about own steroid use on Bodybuilding.com and on bodybuilding forums of other web sites. He noted that he administered Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. Jonny Spelman shared own experience and asked for recommendations about administration of certain steroids and stacks. The teenager also asked about ways of having PCT.
Since he wrote about application of steroids openly, administrators of the site Bodybuilding.com banned him. It led to the search of his school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was found.
Jonny Spelman claims that however his parents are rich, they don’t desire to support financially his efforts to be a professional bodybuilder. They have told him that he has to move out, if he desires to be a bodybuilder. But the young athlete has goals and he doesn’t want to leave them. He plans to post workout videos on YouTube and receive money in exchange. He adds that viewers of YouTube play a significant role in his life because they help him to become a bodybuilder.

How does fat distribution influence on cardiovascular system?

A valuable research was conducted at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University. Scientists studied and defined links between steroid use, body fat distribution and some undesirable consequences of anabolic steroids. The research has manifested that consumers of steroids may suffer from unhealthy fat distribution that can cause heart attacks and other troubles linked with cardiovascular system.
The results of the study and conclusions are published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 elite lifters from Sweden were enrolled in the study. They use anabolic steroids continuously. So, it was studied function of steroids in body fat distribution.
It is stated that lifters that administer steroids possessing anabolic and androgenic properties have risks experiencing heart attacks. The experts at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University have studied how body fat is distributed in lifters that take steroids having anabolic and androgenic effects. It has been observed that incorrect fat distribution may be a reason for disorders of cardiovascular system.
The lifters that were implicated in the research were divided into 2 groups. Body fat distribution was studied in all lifters. The lifters of one group used anabolic steroids. The lifters of another group didn’t administer steroids.
The research has demonstrated that those that apply steroids have lower fat deposits below the waist. So, they have lower levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner that is ordinarily utilized to study osteoporosis has been used in order to determine fat distribution in these lifters.

Colin Daynes hasn’t known that Drostanolone, Boldenone, Furasemide and Tamoxifen are banned drugs

Colin Daynes, a Canadian wrestler, tested positive for banned preparations. It means that he will not compete at the Summer Olympics. He was sentenced to 2-year ban.
Last year the wrestler was chosen for the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
 The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports banned this wrestler. He failed a drug test, when he acquired a gold medal in the 74-kg division.
The athlete tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Each of these medications is in the list of forbidden medications of the World Anti-Doping Agency. As for Drostanolone and Boldenone, they belong to anabolic steroids. Furosemide represents a diuretic preparation. It is taken as a masking agent for other medicines. Tamoxifen is a medicine that is advised for prevention of side consequences that occur due to administration of steroids.
The sportsman admitted to administration of banned preparations and accepted the sentence. The sportsperson claimed that he applied the forbidden medications to receive recovery from an injury. Colin Daynes told to The Star Monday night that he wanted to recover in order to be able to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games. The wrestler noted that a naturopathic physician advised to administer these medications. Colin Daynes also added that he hadn’t known that the products were prohibited. According to his words, if he had known, he wouldn’t have competed.
Colin Daynes was going to represent Canada at the Olympics again. The wrestler represented his country at the 1996 Olympics that took place in Atlanta.
The wrestler didn’t put efforts to defense himself. Colin Daynes noticed that there was no any difference whether the prohibited drugs were found in the blood or not. They presented in the system.
Previously Colin Daynes also competed in mixed martial arts. He had to qualify internationally. The wrestler thought that he would compete at the Olympics in London last time. Then his career ends. But he was banned  because of positives for prohibited drugs.
Bill Hogarth, Colin Daynes’ personal trainer, claims that that the things are too bad. But the athlete didn’t want to cheat. Hogarth hopes that Daynes’ reputation will not be destroyed. During his career he obtained 62 gold medals, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Australian man asked police to come to his place and showed that he possessed 1 kg of testosterone

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, a person from Australia, was caught possessing almost one kg of Testosterone Propionate. He placed order for powder of this medicine on internet and got it from overseas. This man also wanted to get benzyl benzoate, a chemical that is used in order to prepare liquid for injections from powder. When police officers learnt that this man ordered this chemical, they asked him about purpose of buying it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes said that he intended to get it for a friend. But he added that he had forgotten the name of the friend.
Then Hayes himself contacted police officers and asked them to come to his place. When they came, Hayes showed that he possessed two bags of white powder. He also acknowledged that he had ordered benzyl benzoate in order to mix it with the powder and prepare solution for injections.  
Carlton Alloysius Hayes weighed about 156 kg, when he was in the court. He noted that he couldn’t lose weight, although he trained at the gym. Thus, he applied steroids to lose weight and look better. This person noted that he hadn’t had any plan to distribute steroids. He purchased the testosterone powder for self-administration.
A defense attorney for Hayes affirmed that his client had a good reputation. He always worked hardly.
 However he had to be sentenced to imprisonment because he bought steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to sentence him to certain months of suspended jail. So, this person avoided prison.

War on illegal sale of steroids in Poland

A criminal group that was dealing with manufacture and sale of anabolic steroids was busted by Poland’s police. More than 90 policemen and frontier guard were implicated in the investigation related to this illicit business. Customers were mainly from North America. Police arrested 19 individuals: 6 women and 13 men. They were accused of illicit manufacture and distribution of steroids and money laundering.
Investigators determined that the drug ring was dealing with steroids since March 2008. The drug ring advertised steroids for increase of muscle mass and health in general. The medicines were offered for sale per internet. Individuals from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. placed orders and obtained illicit medications.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and delivered to customers. There was a person who was responsible for receiving money and transferring it to members of the company.
Homes and business offices of the steroid ring were raided. Police officers found large measures of steroids and packages that were prepared for shipment abroad. Several vehicles, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other objects were confiscated. The total value of seized objects and money was estimated. It was about 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was set by investigators that three individuals composed the leadership of the illegal group. They face 15 years in jail.
This investigation conducted by Polish police turned out to be successful. It was not the first successful steroid investigation in Poland. Last year police of this country busted another illicit drug ring. 7 individuals were detained. Approximately 80 policemen were implicated in that investigation. Police also identified drugs which were offered for sale by that drug ring.

New findings can alter attitude to dutasteride

According to a trial, treatment with dutasteride (Avodart), a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, doesn’t influence negatively on muscle mass in healthy men that apply testosterone.
A research connected with this issue was performed. While fat-free mass was increased by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in men that used dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was increased by 0,8-8,1 kg in those who were given placebo and testosterone. As for muscle strength, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in males of these two groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are applied clinically to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are dysfunctions that usually affect middle-aged and elderly males.
DHT represents the main metabolite of testosterone. But the role of DHT in human development is not is not understood. It is supposed that DHT has important role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and elder men with reduced testosterone levels that use testosterone medications have risks connected with reduced muscle size and sexual disorders.
Specialists also put efforts to develop nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). It is claimed that SARMs and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are safe because DHT is supposedly not necessary for effects on fat-free mass, muscle power and sexual activity. It is also doubted whether DHT has any role for androgen’s effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin, lipids and some other factors.
Shalender Bhasin and his colleagues at the Boston University have performed a clinical trial in order to set whether 5?-reduction to DHT is needed in order to mediate androgen’s effects on muscle mass. Furthermore, the experts evaluated role of 5?-reduction on sexual activity, hematocrit and levels of lipid.
The research conducted by Bhasin and his colleagues involved healthy males who were 18- 50 years old and had normal levels of testosterone. They applied Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Quantities of Testosterone Enanthate ranged from 50 to 600 mg per week.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors enhance levels of testosterone, all males were given also gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in order to block natural testosterone.
The results of the research manifested that fat-free mass was increased due to usage of testosterone. It didn’t differ significantly in men of these 2 groups. Muscle power which was also enhanced due to application of testosterone didn’t differ between the two groups too. Sexual functions, volume of prostate, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ significantly between those who took placebo and dutasteride.
The experts affirm that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors can be limited in males that have normal or increased testosterone levels. That’s why it is important to check testosterone levels in order to determine how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the research has shown that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Men have to know that if they have high testosterone levels or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not cause shrinkage of prostate.

Dr. Alberto Beltran Nino managed multinational doping ring

Spain’s police busted a huge drug ring.
 According to affirmations of police officers, sportspeople that tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana bought steroids and other related medications from this doping ring.
10 persons that were involved in this drug ring were arrested. Professional cyclists and other sportspersons had links with this illicit drug network.  It was a popular source of performance-enhancing drugs in the world of top athletes.
The investigation was called “Operation Skype”. The doctor  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the drug chain. He is a former physician of Liberty Seguros team. He was detained and sentenced to jail, when he tried to fly from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal coach of the Spanish runner Marta Dominguez, was also arrested by Spain’s police.
However the center of the illegal drug ring was set in Barcelona, it represented an international company. The ring was linked with Morocco and Columbia. Steroids, HGH and EPO CERA were sold by this illicit drug ring.
The physician Beltran also worked with Xacobeo-Galicia team. David Garcia, the professional rider of this team, tested positive for EPO at the 2010 Vuelta.
The investigation began summer last year. It was initially related to the Spanish runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was banned for two years because of positives for forbidden products.