WADA: caffeine doesn’t have any influence on performance

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) believes that caffeine should be included in prohibited drugs of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates notes 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 applied sleeping tablets Stilnox. Thus, Coates notices that application of caffeine resulted in usage of Stilnox.
Stilnox is often sold under the commercial name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy which is used to treat insomnia.
John Coates notes that sportspersons use caffeine in order to increase performance. Usage of this substance leads to insomnia. Thus, sportspersons have to take sleeping remedies in order to treat insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia desire to ban consumption of caffeine. It is their response to the disgraceful case linked with Grant Hackett. A doctor recommended administering Stilnox to this swimmer at the time of the 2003 World Championships. As a result, this swimmer became addicted to this sleeping remedy.
Grant Hackett is a celebrated swimmer. He won numerous 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 usage of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of prohibited products. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to disclose usage of this product.
But when it comes to caffeine, previously it was prohibited by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and used in society, it was excluded from the list of forbidden preparations.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, claims that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of banned substances. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of forbidden drugs again.
However a lot of experts confirm that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this statement. He claims that caffeine doesn’t influence on performance. The president of the WADA concludes that no any scientific literature describes ability of caffeine to increase performance.

Several British Olympians are not happy that Dwain Chambers is allowed to represent Britain at 2012 Olympics

The British runner Dwain Chambers, that successfully served his 2-year suspension for administration of anabolic steroids, was chosen to be the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Chambers troubles about the way to represent the native country. When it comes to the British Olympic Association (BOA), they don’t want to see him participating in the 2012 Olympics. Several former British Olympians don’t support the consumer of steroids too.
The runner applied the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) introduced by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin elaborated a method which could discover usage of THG, the sprinter tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Undoubtedly, intake of the steroid destroyed his reputation. When he tried to come back to professional sports, the BOA made the decision to alter the laws in order to prevent appearing of the sprinter in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The BOA has established the rules which 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 caused 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 steroid users at Olympics. Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson, former Olympians, loudly supported efforts of the BOA.
 Daley Thompson confirmed 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 represent Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This aspect turned out to be an open door for other sportspersons that have served their suspensions to participate 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 London Olympics as well.
Despites wasting much time to prevent appearing of steroid users at Olympic Games, the BOA ultimately stated that not only Dwain Chambers but also Millar, Myerscough or any other sportsperson 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.

Austrian authorities were paid one million Euros in exchange for refusal to extradite steroid dealer to US

Lately a large steroid chain was busted in Austria. It was determined that this company got 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution of steroids. Mihael Karner was claimed to be the leader of the drug ring. The USA asked Austria to extradite this man to the US. But Mihael Karner wasn’t extradited. This person gave one million Euros to Austrian authorities that sent him to his native country Slovenia.
Slovenia’s laws differ from Austrian ones. According to the Constitution of this country, it is banned to extradite Slovenians to another country. Mihael Karner turned out to be a lucky man. If he had not avoided the extradition to the USA, he would have probably gone to 40 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors started the investigation related to this steroid empire in 2005. The steroid ring began to function earlier. Federal prosecutors found that since 2000 till 2008 the company earned 40 million Euros due to illegal distribution of steroids.
Federal prosecutors learnt in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were implicated in illegal sale of steroids but they couldn’t prosecute them because the Karners were in Austria. But later steroid laws in Austria were altered due to suppression by the US. Furthermore, 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 steroid dealers to the USA, it doesn’t have great success in this area. But those that were implicated 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 the US was shocked, when it was found that Karner arrived to Slovenia safely. Thus, the USA was defeated this time in the struggle against steroids.

Spelmans don’t want to support his son financially

Caroline Spelman and her husband put efforts in order to prevent spreading news about her son’s intake of steroids. She spent huge sums of money in courts for this goal. But as you know, anyone could read the news about the youngest British athlete that was caught using forbidden medications and banned from rugby. Anybody expected that Jonny Spelman would thank his parents for the efforts to prevent publishing news about him. But the teenager’s attitude turned out to be opposite.
Spelman’s son wants to become a celebrated professional bodybuilder. He wants to reach the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for usage of steroids, Jonny Spelman was too open. He wrote about own usage of steroids on Bodybuilding.com and on bodybuilding forums of other sites. He affirmed that he applied Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. The teenager shared own experience and asked for instructions about application of some steroids and combinations. Jonny Spelman also asked about ways of having PCT.
Since he wrote about intake of steroids openly, administrators of Bodybuilding.com banned him. It caused the search of his school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was found.
The young sportsperson reports that although his parents are rich, they don’t desire to support financially his efforts to become a professional bodybuilder. They have said him that he should move out, if he wants to be a bodybuilder. But the teenager has goals and he doesn’t want to leave them. He intends to post workout videos on YouTube and get money in exchange. The teenager concludes that viewers of YouTube play a significant role in his life because they help him to become a bodybuilder.

Swedish study related to steroids and body fat distribution

Recently some experts at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University conducted a valuable research. Scientists studied and determined relations between steroid use, fat distribution in body and several undesirable reactions of anabolic steroids. The study has manifested that consumers of steroids can suffer from abnormal fat distribution that may result in heart attacks and other disorders of cardiovascular system.
The results of the study and conclusions were published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 Swedish elite lifters were involved in the study. They use anabolic steroids regularly. So, it was studied function of steroids in body fat distribution.
It is known that lifters that use anabolic-androgenic steroids face risks suffering from heart attacks. The experts at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University have studied how body fat is distributed in lifters that administer steroids possessing anabolic and androgenic features. It has been defined that incorrect fat distribution may be a reason for diseases of cardiovascular system.
The lifters that were implicated in the study were divided into two groups. Body fat distribution was studied in lifters of the two groups. The lifters of one group took anabolic steroids. The lifters of the other group didn’t administer steroids.
The study has manifested that those who apply steroids have more reduced fat deposits below the waist. Thus, they have lower levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner which is ordinarily used to study osteoporosis has been used in order to determine fat distribution in these lifters.

Colin Daynes is banned

Colin Daynes, a Canadian wrestler, tested positive for banned products. It means that he will not compete at the Summer Olympics. He was given 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 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 included in the list of banned preparations of the World Anti-Doping Agency. As for Drostanolone and Boldenone, they are anabolic steroids. Furosemide is a diuretic preparation. It is applied as a masking agent for other products. Tamoxifen is a product which is advised for prevention of undesirable consequences which occur due to steroid cycles.
The athlete admitted to administration of banned medicines and accepted the sentence. He affirmed that he used the prohibited medicines for getting or recovery from an injury. The wrestler told to The Star Monday night that he wanted to recover in order to participate in the 2012 Olympics. The athlete noticed that a naturopathic physician recommended taking these products. He also added that he hadn’t known that the preparations were prohibited. According to his statements, if he had known, he wouldn’t have participated in competitions.
The wrestler was going to represent Canada at the Olympics again. The wrestler represented his country at the 1996 Olympics which took place in Atlanta.
The wrestler didn’t put efforts to defense himself. The athlete noted that there was no any difference whether the banned preparations were found in the blood or not. They presented in the system.
Earlier this wrestler also competed in mixed martial arts. Colin Daynes was going to qualify internationally. Colin Daynes thought that he would compete at the Olympics in London last time. Then the wrestler’s career comes to the end. But he was banned  because of positives for prohibited medicines.
Bill Hogarth, Colin Daynes’ personal trainer, notices that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler didn’t want to lie. Hogarth hopes that the wrestler’s reputation will not be destroyed. During his career he obtained 62 gold medals, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Australian man: 1 kg of testosterone powder was bought for personal usage

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, a person from Australia, was caught possessing almost a kg of Testosterone Propionate. He placed order for powder of this drug per internet and got it from overseas. This person also desired to get benzyl benzoate, a chemical which is used in order to prepare liquid for injections from powder. When police officers found out that he ordered this chemical, he was asked 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 admitted that he had ordered benzyl benzoate in order to mix it with the powder and make solution for injections.  
Hayes weighed circa 156 kg, when the court took place. He noticed that he couldn’t lose weight, however he trained at the gym. Thus, he took steroids to lose weight and look better. This person confirmed that he hadn’t had any intention to distribute steroids. He got the testosterone powder for personal application.
A defense attorney for Carlton Alloysius Hayes noted that his client had a good reputation. He was ever a hard worker.
 Although he had to be sentenced to prison because he got steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to sentence him to certain months of suspended jail. So, he escaped from imprisonment.

Multinational illegal business that was dealing with steroids was busted by Polish police

A criminal group that manufactured and sold anabolic steroids was busted in Poland. More than 90 police officers and border police were implicated in the investigation connected with this illegal company. Customers were chiefly 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 group advertised steroids for enhancement of muscle mass and well-being in general. The drugs were offered for sale on internet. Persons from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. ordered and got illicit medicines.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and delivered to customers. There was a member of the group 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 found large doses of steroids and packages that were prepared for shipment abroad. Several vehicles, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other things were seized. The total value of confiscated objects and money was estimated. It was around 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was set by investigators that three persons represented the leadership of the drug ring. They face 15-year imprisonment.
This investigation conducted by Polish police was successful. It was not the first successful steroid investigation in Poland. Last year Polish police officers busted another illicit drug ring. 7 individuals were arrested. About 80 policemen took part in that investigation. Police also identified medications which were sold by that group.

Dutasteride doesn’t affect muscle mass in men that introduce exogenous testosterone into bodies

According to a trial, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride (Avodart) doesn’t affect muscle mass in healthy men that use testosterone.
A study connected with this issue was conducted. While fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in men that used dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,8-8,1 kg in those who used placebo and testosterone. As for muscle power, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in men of these 2 groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are applied clinically for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are dysfunctions which usually affect middle-aged and old men.
DHT represents the chief metabolite of testosterone. But the role of this metabolite in human development is not clearly understood. It is suggested that DHT has important role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and old men with reduced testosterone levels that take testosterone medicines have risks related to reduced muscle mass and sexual problems.
Specialists also put efforts to develop nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). It is confirmed that SARMs and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are safe because DHT is probably not necessary for effects on fat-free mass, strength and sexual life. It is also doubted whether DHT plays any role for androgen’s effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin, lipids and certain other factors.
Shalender Bhasin and his colleagues at the Boston University have conducted a clinical trial in order to see whether 5?-reduction to DHT is needed in order to mediate androgen’s effects on muscle mass. Furthermore, the specialists evaluated role of 5?-reduction on sexual activity, hematocrit and levels of lipid.
The study conducted by Bhasin and his colleagues enrolled healthy men that were 18- 50 years old and had normal testosterone levels. They used Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Dosages of Testosterone Enanthate varied from 50 to 600 mg weekly.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors increase testosterone levels, all males 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 substantially in males of these two groups. Muscle strength that was also increased due to testosterone use didn’t differ between the two groups as well. Sexual activity, volume of prostate, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ essentially between those who used placebo and dutasteride.
The specialists note that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors may be limited in males that have normal or high levels of testosterone. That’s why it is necessary to measure levels of testosterone in order to set how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the study has demonstrated that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Men should know that if they have high levels of testosterone or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not lead to shrinkage of prostate.

Athletes that tested positive at 2008 Olympics were linked with huge doping ring

A large doping ring was busted by Spain’s police.
 According to reports of police, sportspersons that tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana purchased steroids and other related drugs from this doping ring.
10 persons who were involved in this doping ring were arrested. Professional cyclists and other athletes had relations with this illicit drug network.  It was a popular source of performance-enhancing drugs in the world of top athletes.
The investigation was codenamed “Operation Skype”. The physician  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the drug chain. He is a former doctor of Liberty Seguros team. He was arrested and sentenced to jail, when he tried to flee from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal trainer of the Spanish runner Marta Dominguez, was also detained by Spain’s police officers.
However the center of the doping ring was set in Barcelona, it was an international company. The ring had contacts in Morocco and Columbia. Steroids, HGH and EPO CERA were offered for sale 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 linked with the runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was sentenced to 2-year ban because of positives for prohibited medications.