WADA: there is no scientific evidence about effects of caffeine on performance

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) believes that caffeine should be included in prohibited medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates confirms that caffeine promotes addiction to sleeping remedies and tranquillisers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers who took part at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games took sleeping tablets Stilnox. Thus, the president of the AOC notices that administration of caffeine resulted in administration of Stilnox.
Stilnox is ordinarily sold under the commercial name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy which is taken in case of insomnia.
The president of AOC notices that athletes take caffeine for enhancement of performance. Consumption of this substance leads to insomnia. So, athletes should use sleeping tablets in order to treat insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia desire to prohibit usage of caffeine. It is their response to the disgrace related to Grant Hackett. A physician recommended taking Stilnox to this athlete at the time of the 2003 World Championships. As a result, the athlete became addicted to this sleeping remedy.
Grant Hackett is a well-known 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 affirmed that intake of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of forbidden preparations. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to discover usage of this medicine.
But when it comes to caffeine, previously it was banned by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and used in society, it was excluded from the list of prohibited substances.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, claims that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of banned products. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of banned products again.
However numerous experts confirm that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this statement. He confirms that caffeine doesn’t impact on performance. He concludes that no any scientific literature describes capacity of caffeine to increase performance.

BOA put great efforts to keep Dwain Chambers out of Olympics

The British runner Dwain Chambers, who successfully served his 2-year ban for administration of anabolic steroids, was named the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Chambers worries 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. Certain former British Olympians don’t support the steroid user as well.
The sprinter took the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) introduced by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin elaborated a method that could disclose intake of THG, Chambers tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Of course, intake of the steroid destroyed his reputation. When he attempted to come back to professional sports, the BOA decided to change the laws in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The BOA has introduced 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 factor led to numerous disputes and news.
The case was even presented in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Loyd Moynihan, the chairman of the BOA, put significant efforts in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers or other consumers of steroids at Olympics. Such former Olympians, as Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson, loudly supported efforts of the BOA.
 Daley Thompson claimed that Britain should not compromise. He noticed that Britain should not listen to the rest of the world that don’t want 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 Olympics. This case turned out to be an open door for other athletes that have served their bans to take part in Olympics.
The cyclist David Millar and the shot-putter Carl Myerscough that have served their bans for usage of steroids will compete at the 2012 Olympics as well.
Despites spending much time to prevent appearing of steroid users at Olympic Games, the BOA ultimately stated that not only Chambers but also Millar, Myerscough or any other sportsperson that has served a ban successfully may compete at Olympic Games. The CEO of the BOA Andy Hunt has claimed that any athlete is treated the same way.

Leader of steroid empire avoided extradition to US

Lately a large steroid empire was busted in Austria. It was determined that this company received 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution of steroids. Mihael Karner was identified as the leader of the drug ring. The USA asked Austria to extradite this man to the US. But Mihael Karner avoided the extradition successfully. Mihael Karner paid one million Euros to Austrian authorities that sent him to Slovenia, his native country.
Slovenia’s laws differ from Austrian ones. According to the Slovenian Constitution, it is prohibited to extradite Slovenian citizens to another country. Mihael Karner is a lucky person. If he had not avoided the extradition to the USA, he could be sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors started the investigation related to this steroid empire in 2005. The steroid ring started to function earlier. Federal prosecutors defined that since 2000 till 2008 the company got 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution of steroids.
Federal prosecutors defined in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were involved in illicit distribution 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.
However the US tries to enforce European countries and other countries of the world to extradite distributors of steroids to the USA, it doesn’t have essential success in this area. But the persons 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 hoped that he would be extradited. That’s why the US was shocked, when it was learnt that Karner reached Slovenia safely. So, the USA was defeated this time in the war on steroids.

Jonny Spelman dreams to get title Mr. Olympia

Mrs. Spelman and her husband tried to prevent spreading news about her son’s administration of steroids. She wasted significant sums of money in courts for this purpose. But as you know, any person could read the news about the youngest British sportsman that was caught taking steroids and suspended from rugby. Anybody expected that Jonny Spelman would be thankful to 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 famous professional bodybuilder. He desires to achieve the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for administration of steroids, Jonny Spelman was very open. He wrote about own intake of steroids on Bodybuilding.com and on bodybuilding forums of other web sites. He claimed that he administered Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. Spelman’s son shared own experience and asked for indications about application of several steroids and stacks. He also asked about ways of having PCT.
Since he wrote about intake 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 found.
The teenager confirms that although his parents are rich, they don’t agree to support financially his efforts to become a professional bodybuilder. They have told him that he has to move out, if he decides to be a bodybuilder. But the teenager has goals and he doesn’t desires to leave them. He intends to host workout videos on YouTube and receive money in exchange. The young athlete adds that viewers of YouTube play a great role in his life because they support his efforts.

Links between usage of steroids, fat distribution and cardiovascular diseases

A precious study was conducted at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University. Scientists studied and set links between intake of steroids, fat distribution in body and certain undesirable effects of anabolic steroids. The study has displayed that consumers of steroids can experience abnormal fat distribution that may cause heart attacks and other problems linked with cardiovascular system.
The results of the research and conclusions were published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 Swedish elite lifters were enrolled in the study. They use anabolic steroids regularly. So, it was studied role of steroids in fat distribution.
It is affirmed that lifters who use anabolic-androgenic steroids have risks suffering from heart attacks. It has been studied by specialists at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University the way body fat is distributed in lifters that apply steroids having anabolic and androgenic characteristics. It has been defined that unhealthy fat distribution can be a reason for diseases of cardiovascular system.
The lifters who were enrolled in the study were divided into 2 groups. Body fat distribution was studied in all lifters. The lifters of one group took anabolic steroids. The lifters of the other group didn’t take steroids.
The research has displayed that those who use steroids have more reduced fat deposits below the waist. Thus, they have more decreased levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner that is usually applied to study osteoporosis has been utilized in order to determine fat distribution by the specialists of the study.

Colin Daynes failed drug test

The Canadian wrestler Colin Daynes failed a test for prohibited products. His Olympic dreams will not become real. He was given 2-year ban.
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.
Colin Daynes tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Every of these preparations is in the list of banned medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. When it comes to Drostanolone and Boldenone, they belong to anabolic steroids. Furosemide is a diuretic preparation. It is taken as a masking agent for other medications. Tamoxifen is a drug which is advised for prevention of adverse reactions that appear due to application of steroids.
The athlete admitted to usage of prohibited preparations and accepted the sentence. The wrestler affirmed that he applied the prohibited medicines for getting or recovery from an injury. The wrestler told to The Star Monday night that he desired to recover in order to participate in the 2012 Olympics. The wrestler noted that a naturopathic physician advised him to take these medicines. Colin Daynes also added that he hadn’t known that the medications were forbidden. 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 which were in Atlanta.
Daynes didn’t attempt to defense himself. Colin Daynes noticed that there was no any difference whether the forbidden medicines were found in the blood or not. They were in the system.
Earlier this athlete also competed in mixed martial arts. The wrestler had to qualify internationally. Colin Daynes thought that he would compete at the Olympics in London last time. Then his career comes to the end. But he was banned  because of positives for banned products.
Bill Hogarth,
Colin Daynes’ coach claims that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler didn’t desire to cheat. 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 that got 1 kg of Testosterone Propionate from overseas: it was just for personal use

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, an Australian man, was caught possessing almost a kg of Testosterone Propionate. He placed order for powder of this preparation on internet and acquired it from overseas. This man also desired to buy benzyl benzoate, a chemical which is applied for preparing of liquid for injections from powder. When police officers learnt that he ordered this chemical, they asked him about purpose of buying it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes claimed that he intended to acquire 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 police officers came, Carlton Alloysius 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 prepare liquid for injections.  
Hayes weighed about 156 kg, when the court took place. He noted that he couldn’t lose weight, however he trained at the gym. So, he applied steroids to lose weight and improve appearance. This man noticed that he hadn’t had any intention to distribute steroids. He obtained the testosterone powder for self-administration.
A defense attorney for Carlton Alloysius Hayes affirmed that his client had a good reputation. He was ever a hard worker.
 However he had to be sentenced to imprisonment because he bought steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to sentence him to several months of suspended jail. Thus, he avoided imprisonment.

6 women and 13 men were detained for illegal sale of steroids in Poland

An illegal group that manufactured and offered for sale anabolic steroids was busted in Poland. Over 90 policemen and border police were involved in the investigation linked with this illicit steroid ring. Customers were mainly from North America. Police officers detained 19 persons: 6 women and 13 men. They were charged with illicit manufacture and distribution of steroids and money laundering.
Investigators determined that the group was dealing with steroids since March 2008. The company advertised steroids for enhancement of muscle mass and well-being in general. The drugs were offered for sale on internet. Individuals from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. ordered and obtained illegal medications.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and delivered to customers. There was a member of the group that was responsible for getting money and transferring it to members of the company.
Homes and business offices of the group were raided. Police officers found large dosages of steroids and packages that were prepared to be shipped abroad. Certain vehicles, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other things were seized. The total value of seized objects and money was estimated. It was about 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was defined by police that three individuals were leaders of the criminal group. They face 15 years in jail.
This investigation conducted by Polish police officers turned out to be successful. It was not the first successful drug investigation in Poland. Last year Poland’s police busted another illegal drug ring. 7 persons were arrested. About 80 police officers were involved in that investigation. Police also identified drugs which were offered for sale by that drug ring.

5-alpha reductase inhibitors don’t hinder anabolic effects caused by exogenous testosterone

According to a trial, treatment with dutasteride (Avodart), a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, doesn’t affect fat-free mass in healthy males that take testosterone.
A research linked with this issue was conducted. While fat-free mass was increased by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in men who took dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,8-8,1 kg in those that administered placebo and testosterone. As for muscle strength, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in men of these two groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used clinically to cure benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are dysfunctions which commonly trouble middle-aged and elderly males.
DHT represents the main metabolite of testosterone. But the function of this metabolite in human development is not studied well. It is suggested that DHT plays vital role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and elder males with low testosterone levels that take testosterone medications have risks related to decreased muscle size and sexual disorders.
Scientists also study and 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, energy 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 conducted a clinical trial in order to define whether 5?-reduction to DHT is required in order to mediate androgen’s effects on muscle mass. Furthermore, the experts evaluated role of 5?-reduction on sexual functions, hematocrit and levels of lipid.
The study conducted by Bhasin and his colleagues involved healthy males who were 18- 50 years old and had normal testosterone levels. They administered 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 enhanced due to usage of testosterone. It didn’t differ substantially in males of these 2 groups. Muscle strength which was also increased due to usage 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 used placebo and dutasteride.
The specialists state that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors can be limited in males that have normal or high levels of testosterone. That’s why it is important to check levels of testosterone in order to determine how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the study has shown that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Men should know that if they have increased levels of testosterone or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not cause shrunken prostate.

Investigation codenamed Operation Skype is successful

A huge drug ring was busted by national Spain’s police.
 According to affirmations of police, sportspersons that tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana bought steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs from this drug ring.
10 individuals that were involved in this drug ring were detained. Professional cyclists and other sportspersons had relations with this illegal drug network.  It was a prominent source of steroids and other related drugs in the world of top athletes.
The investigation was nicknamed “Operation Skype”. The doctor  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the drug ring. He is a former physician of Liberty Seguros team. He was arrested and sentenced to prison, when he tried to fly from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal coach of the athlete Marta Dominguez, was also arrested by police.
Although the center of the doping ring was set in Barcelona, it represented an international business. The ring was connected with Morocco and Columbia. Steroids, HGH and EPO CERA were distributed by this illegal drug ring.
Dr. Beltran also worked with Xacobeo-Galicia team. David Garcia, the road bicycle racer of this team, tested positive for EPO at the 2010 Vuelta.
The investigation started summer last year. It was initially linked with the Spanish runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was sentenced to 2-year ban due to positives for forbidden products.