Australian Olympic Committee: athletes use caffeine for enhancement of performance

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) claims that caffeine should be included in forbidden medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates claims that caffeine promotes addiction to sleeping tablets and tranquilizers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers who took part at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics applied sleeping pills Stilnox. Thus, John Coates believes that application of caffeine led to administration of Stilnox.
Stilnox is often sold under the commercial name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy which is administered to cure insomnia.
John Coates claims that sportspeople take caffeine for enhancement of performance. Usage of this substance leads to insomnia. Thus, athletes have to administer sleeping pills for treatment of insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia desire to ban usage of caffeine. It is their response to the disgrace linked with Grant Hackett. A doctor recommended administering Stilnox to this athlete at the time of the 2003 World Championships. As a result, this swimmer became addicted to this sleeping remedy.
Grant Hackett is a famous swimmer. He won many 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 confirmed that intake of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of banned medicines. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to disclose usage of this preparation.
But when it comes to caffeine, earlier it was prohibited by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and consumed in society, it was excluded from the list of banned substances.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, claims that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of forbidden medicines. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of forbidden medications again.
However many specialists confirm that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this affirmation. He confirms that caffeine doesn’t influence on performance. The president of the WADA concludes that no any scientific literature proves ability of caffeine to increase performance.

BOA doesn’t desire to see sprinter Dwain Chambers at 2012 Olympic Games

The runner Dwain Chambers, who successfully served his 2-year suspension for administration of anabolic steroids, was chosen to be the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.
Chambers troubles about the way to represent the native country. As for the British Olympic Association (BOA), they are not happy to see him taking part in the Olympic Games. Certain former British Olympians don’t support the consumer of steroids too.
The runner administered the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) elaborated by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin developed a method which could disclose intake of THG, Chambers tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Of course, intake of the steroid spoiled his reputation. When he attempted to come back to professional sports, the BOA decided to change the laws in order to prevent appearing of the sprinter in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The BOA has established the rules that ban steroid users from Olympics for life-time.
Establishing this rule, the BOA violated the doping code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This situation led to many disputes and news.
The case was even presented in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Loyd Moynihan, the chairman of the BOA, 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 noted 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. Chambers was allowed to be the representative of Britain at the 2012 Olympics. This aspect turned out to be an open door for other sportspersons that have served their suspensions to take part in Olympics.
The cyclist David Millar and the shot-putter Carl Myerscough that have served their suspensions for steroid use will compete at the 2012 Olympics as well.
Despites wasting much time to keep former steroid users from Olympics, the BOA ultimately confirmed that not only Dwain Chambers but also Millar, Myerscough or any other athlete that has served a suspension successfully may compete at Olympics. Andy Hunt, the CEO of the BOA, has claimed that any sportsperson is treated the same way.

US rarely has success, when it comes to extradition of steroid dealers

Lately a large steroid ring was busted in Austria. It was discovered that this company got 40 million Euros due to illegal sale of steroids. Mihael Karner was identified as the leader of the steroid ring. The USA asked Austria to extradite this person to the US. But the steroid dealer wasn’t extradited. This man paid 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 Constitution of this country, it is forbidden to extradite Slovenian citizens to another country. Mihael Karner turned out to be a lucky man. If he had been extradited to the USA, he would have probably gone to 40 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors started the investigation connected with this steroid empire in 2005. The steroid empire started to function earlier. Federal prosecutors set that since 2000 till 2008 the company got 40 million Euros due to illegal sale of steroids.
Federal prosecutors found in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were involved in illegal distribution of steroids but they couldn’t prosecute them because the Karners were in Austria. But later steroid laws in Austria were changed due to suppression by the US. Moreover, the US induced the arrest of Mihael Karner and his wife.
Although the US puts efforts to enforce European countries and other countries of the world to extradite distributors of steroids to the USA, it doesn’t have significant success in this area. But those who were involved in “Musclebear” and “British Dragon” were extradited from Cyprus and Thailand to the USA. That time the US celebrated its victory.
As for Mihael Karner, the USA supposed that he would be extradited. That’s why it was a real shock for the US, when it was found that Karner reached Slovenia safely. So, the USA was defeated this time in the struggle against steroids.

YouTube viewers help Jonny Spelman to become professional bodybuilder

Caroline Spelman and her husband put efforts in order to prevent spreading news about her son’s application of steroids. She spent significant sums of money in courts for this need. But as you know, anyone could read the news about the youngest British sportsman who was caught taking forbidden medications and suspended from rugby. Each person expected that Jonny Spelman would be thankful to his parents for the efforts to hide the truth. But the situation turned out to be opposite.
The teenager desires to become a prominent professional bodybuilder. He wants to achieve the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for steroid use, Jonny Spelman was too open. He wrote about own intake of steroids on Bodybuilding.com and on bodybuilding forums of other sites. He noted that he used Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. Spelman’s son shared own experience and asked for indications about administration of certain steroids and combinations. The teenager also asked about ways of being on PCT.
Since he wrote about usage of steroids openly, administrators of the site Bodybuilding.com banned him. It caused the search of Jonny’s school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was discovered.
The young sportsperson notes that although his parents are rich, they don’t desire to support financially his efforts to be a professional bodybuilder. They have told him that he should move out, if he decides to be a bodybuilder. But Jonny has goals and he doesn’t desires to leave them. He plans to host workout videos on YouTube and receive money in exchange. The teenager adds that viewers of YouTube play a great role in his life because they help him to become a bodybuilder.

Role of steroids in body fat distribution

A valuable research was conducted at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University. Specialists studied and defined links between steroid use, fat distribution in body and certain adverse reactions of anabolic steroids. The research has displayed that steroid users can experience unhealthy fat distribution which can cause heart attacks and other illnesses of cardiovascular system.
The results of the study and conclusions are published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 Swedish elite lifters were enrolled in the research. They administer anabolic steroids regularly. Thus, it was studied function of steroids in body fat distribution.
It is known that lifters that apply anabolic-androgenic steroids face risks suffering from heart attacks. The specialists at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University have studied the way body fat is distributed in lifters who apply steroids having anabolic and androgenic features. It has been determined that incorrect fat distribution can be a reason for disorders of cardiovascular system.
The lifters that were implicated in the research were divided into 2 groups. Fat distribution was studied in all lifters. The lifters of one group used anabolic steroids. The lifters of the other group didn’t use steroids.
The study has manifested that those that take steroids have more reduced fat deposits below the waist. So, they have more decreased levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner which is ordinarily utilized to study osteoporosis has been used in order to determine fat distribution during the research.

Colin Daynes is caught using steroids

Colin Daynes, a Canadian wrestler, failed a test for forbidden medicines. His Olympic dreams will not become real. He was banned for 2 years.
Last year the sportsperson was chosen for the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
 The wrestler was banned by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports. He failed a drug test, when he won a gold medal in the 74-kg weight category.
The athlete tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Each of these medicines is in the list of banned preparations of the World Anti-Doping Agency. When it comes to Drostanolone and Boldenone, they belong to anabolic steroids. Furosemide represents a diuretic medication. It is applied as a masking agent for other medications. Tamoxifen is a medicine that is advised for prevention of undesirable effects that appear due to intake of steroids.
The sportsman admitted to application of banned products and accepted the sentence. He claimed that he took the prohibited drugs to receive recovery from an injury. He told to The Star Monday night that he desired to recover in order to be able to participate in the Summer Olympics. The wrestler noted that a naturopathic physician advised to use these products. He also added that he hadn’t known that the drugs were prohibited. According to his affirmations, if he had known, he wouldn’t have participated in competitions.
Colin Daynes was going to represent Canada at the Olympics again. The wrestler represented his country at the 1996 Olympics that were in Atlanta.
Daynes didn’t put efforts to defense himself. The athlete noted that there was no any difference whether the banned drugs were found in the blood or not. They were in the system.
Previously this athlete also competed in mixed martial arts. He was going to qualify internationally. Colin Daynes hoped that he would compete at the 2012 Olympics last time. Then his career ends. But he was sentenced to ban because of positives for banned medications.
His personal trainer Bill Hogarth claims that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler 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 got 1 kg of testosterone for self-administration in order to lose weight

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, an Australian man, was accused of possession of almost a kg of Testosterone Propionate. He ordered powder of this medication via internet and got it from overseas. This person also wanted to get benzyl benzoate, a chemical that is used in order to make solution for injections from powder. When police officers learnt that this person ordered this chemical, he was asked about purpose of buying it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes confirmed that he planned to acquire it for a friend. But he added that he had forgotten the name of the friend.
Then Hayes himself contacted policemen and asked them to come to his place. When they came, Hayes showed that he had two bags of white powder. He also admitted that he had ordered benzyl benzoate in order to mix it with the powder and make solution for injections.  
Hayes weighed about 156 kg, when the court took place. He claimed that he couldn’t lose weight, although he trained at the gym. Thus, he took steroids to lose weight and look better. This man added that he hadn’t had any intention to sell steroids. He obtained the testosterone powder for personal application.
A defense attorney for Hayes claimed that his client had a good reputation. He always worked hardly.
 Although he had to be sentenced to imprisonment because he bought steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to give him several months of suspended jail. Thus, this man avoided imprisonment.

19 persons that were dealing with steroids were detained by Polish police

A criminal group that manufactured and offered for sale anabolic steroids was busted by Poland’s police. Over 90 policemen and border guard were involved in the investigation linked with this illicit company. Customers were mainly from North America. Police detained 19 individuals: 6 women and 13 men. They were accused of illicit manufacture and sale of steroids and money laundering.
Investigators set that the group was dealing with steroids since March 2008. The drug ring advertised steroids for getting of muscle mass and well-being in general. The preparations were offered for sale on internet. Persons from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. ordered and got illicit products.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and sent to customers. There was a person who was responsible for receiving money and transferring it to members of the drug ring.
Homes and business offices of the steroid ring were raided. Police officers found huge doses of steroids and packages which were prepared for shipment abroad. Certain vehicles, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other objects were confiscated. The total value of confiscated objects and money was estimated. It was about 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was set by police officers that three individuals represented the leadership of the drug ring. They face 15 years in prison.
This investigation conducted by Polish police officers was successful. It was not the first successful steroid investigation in this country. Last year police of this country busted another illicit steroid ring. 7 persons were arrested. Approximately 80 police officers participated in that investigation. Police officers also reported about substances that were offered for sale by that group.

Do 5-alpha reductase inhibitors affect muscle strength enhanced by exogenous testosterone?

According to a trial, treatment with dutasteride (Avodart), a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, doesn’t affect fat-free mass in healthy men who use testosterone.
A study connected with this issue was performed. While fat-free mass was increased by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in males who administered dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,8-8,1 kg in those who applied placebo and testosterone. As for muscle power, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in males of these two groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are applied clinically to cure benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are disorders which commonly appear in middle-aged and old males.
DHT represents the chief metabolite of testosterone. But the role of DHT in human development is not studied well. It is supposed that DHT has important role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and old men with reduced testosterone levels who administer testosterone medications have risks linked with reduced muscle size and sexual troubles.
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 probably not necessary for effects on fat-free mass, strength and sexual activity. It is also doubted whether DHT plays any role for androgen’s effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin, lipids and some other factors.
Shalender Bhasin and his colleagues at the Boston University have conducted a clinical trial in order to set whether 5?-reduction to DHT is needed in order to mediate androgen’s effects on fat-free mass. Furthermore, the scientist evaluated role of 5?-reduction on sexual functions, hematocrit and levels of lipid.
The study conducted by Bhasin and his colleagues enrolled healthy males that were 18- 50 years old and had normal testosterone levels. They were given Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Doses of Testosterone Enanthate varied from 50 to 600 mg weekly.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors enhance testosterone levels, all men were given also gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in order to block natural testosterone.
The results of the study showed that fat-free mass was increased due to application of testosterone. It didn’t differ significantly in males of these two groups. Muscle strength that was also enhanced due to administration of testosterone didn’t differ between the two groups as well. Sexual functions, prostate volume, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ substantially between those who administered placebo and dutasteride.
The specialists claim that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors can be limited in men that have normal or high levels of testosterone. That’s why it is important to measure testosterone levels in order to determine how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the research has manifested that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Males have to know that if they have high testosterone levels or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not cause shrunken prostate.

Spain’s police busted huge doping ring

A large doping ring was busted by Spain’s police.
 According to affirmations of police, sportspeople that tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana purchased steroids and other related products from this illicit drug ring.
10 individuals that were involved in this illegal drug ring were arrested. Professional cyclists and other athletes had relations with this illicit drug network.  It represented a popular source of steroids and other related drugs in the world of top athletes.
The investigation was codenamed “Operation Skype”. Dr.  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the doping ring. He is a former doctor of Liberty Seguros team. This man was arrested and sentenced to prison, when he tried to flee from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal coach of the athlete Marta Dominguez, was also arrested by Spain’s police.
However the center of the illegal drug ring was set in Barcelona, it was an international business. The ring was related to Morocco and Columbia. Steroids, HGH and EPO CERA were offered for sale by this illegal drug ring.
Dr. 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 originally linked with the runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was banned for two years due to positives for prohibited medications.