Consumption of green tea represents effective way of cheating for steroid users

Athletes become more and more sophisticated in steroid use. They find new methods to hide their administration of forbidden medications. Some sportspersons take time to study experts’ affirmations that could help them to hide that they dope. Today a method has been discovered: sportspeople can mask application of testosterone by drinking of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone which is produced in body naturally. So, it can be difficult for anti-doping agencies to define that a sportsperson has used testosterone. T: E ratio testing is ordinarily used by anti-doping organizations. Such tests may display unusual ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it is not able to manifest difference between testosterone that 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 found that green tea has such compounds that are called “catechins”. They have ability to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme induces attaching glucuronic acid to testosterone. If UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the compounds that can mask application of testosterone, are contained in green and white tea. Such compounds are not in black tea.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted several experiments. They confirm that a cup of strong green tea hides usage of testosterone.
Thus, those athletes who apply testosterone can reduce amounts of testosterone that are excreted in urine by consumption of green or white tea. Green or white tea is capable to block excretion of testosterone, enhancing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the experts. If this process occurs, it means that it is not worthy to apply urine tests. Blood tests must be performed for detection of 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 organizations in order to avoid fooling of urine tests.