Green tea may make T: E ratio testing worthless

Sportspersons become more and more sophisticated in intake of steroids. They find out new methods to mask their usage of forbidden medications. Several athletes take time to study researchers’ affirmations which may help them to hide that they dope. Nowadays a method has been found: sportspersons can mask usage of testosterone with the help of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone which is secreted in body naturally. Thus, it may be difficult for anti-doping agencies to determine that a sportsperson has administered testosterone. T: E ratio testing is commonly used by anti-doping organizations. Such tests may manifest uncommon ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it doesn’t manifest difference between testosterone which 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 determined that green tea contains such compounds which are called “catechins”. They have capacity to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme promotes joining glucuronic acid to testosterone. If UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the substances which may mask administration of testosterone, are contained in green and white tea. Black tea lacks such compounds.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted certain experiments. They claim that a cup of strong green tea hides administration of testosterone.
So, those sportspeople who apply testosterone may lower quantities of testosterone excreting in urine by drinking of green or white tea. Green or white tea has ability to block excretion of testosterone, increasing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the experts. If this process occurs, it is worthless to test urine. 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 officials in order to prevent fooling of urine tests.