Australian Olympic Committee: athletes use caffeine to increase performance

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) believes that caffeine should be included in forbidden medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates claims that caffeine induces addiction to sleeping remedies and tranquilizers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers who participated at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics administered sleeping pills Stilnox. Thus, John Coates claims that administration of caffeine led to administration of Stilnox.
Stilnox is often sold under the trade name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy that is administered in case of insomnia.
The president of AOC notices that sportspeople take caffeine for enhancement of performance. Usage of this substance causes insomnia. So, sportspersons should take sleeping pills in order to treat insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia want to ban usage of caffeine. It is their response to the disgraceful case linked with Grant Hackett. A doctor recommended using 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 well-known swimmer. He won certain 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 claimed that usage of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of banned products. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to discover administration of this medication.
But when it comes to caffeine, earlier it was banned by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and consumed in society, it was excluded from the list of prohibited medicines.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, notices that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of prohibited substances. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of prohibited medications again.
However numerous specialists confirm that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this affirmation. He claims that caffeine doesn’t influence on performance. John Fahey concludes that no any scientific literature proves capacity of caffeine to enhance performance.

BOA is not happy that Dwain Chambers will participate in 2012 Olympics

The 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 Olympic Games.
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 taking part in the Olympic Games. Several former British Olympians don’t support the steroid user as well.
The runner applied the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) introduced by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin developed a method that could disclose application of THG, Chambers tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Undoubtedly, intake of the steroid spoiled his reputation. When he tried to return to professional sports, the BOA decided to alter the laws in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The BOA has established the rules which suspend steroid users from Olympics for the whole life.
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 examined in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The chairman of the BOA Loyd Moynihan put essential efforts in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers or other steroid users at Olympics. Such former Olympians, as Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson, loudly supported efforts of the BOA.
 Daley Thompson stated that Britain should not compromise. He noticed 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. Dwain Chambers was allowed to be the representative of Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. This case turned out to be an open door for other athletes that have served their bans to participate in Olympics.
The cyclist David Millar and the shot-putter Carl Myerscough that have served their suspensions for administration of steroids will compete at the 2012 Olympics too.
Despites wasting much time to keep former steroid users from Olympic Games, the BOA finally claimed that not only Dwain 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 sportsperson is treated the same way.

US was shocked that Austria didn’t extradite steroid dealer Mihael Karner

Recently a huge steroid ring was busted in Austria. It was determined that this company got 40 million Euros due to illicit sale of steroids. Mihael Karner was considered to be the leader of the drug ring. The USA asked Austria to extradite this person to the US. But the steroid dealer avoided the extradition successfully. The steroid dealer 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 Slovenian Constitution, it is banned to extradite Slovenians to another country. Mihael Karner turned out to be 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 connected with this drug ring in 2005. The steroid ring began to function earlier. Federal prosecutors set that since 2000 till 2008 the company got 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution 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 altered due to suppression by the US. Furthermore, the US induced the arrest of Mihael Karner and his wife.
However 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 essential success in this area. But those that 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 the extradition would be successful. That’s why the US was shocked, when it was found that Karner reached Slovenia safely. Thus, the USA was defeated this time in the struggle against steroids.

Workout videos by Jonny Spelman in exchange for money

Mrs. Spelman and her husband did a lot in order to prevent spreading news about her son’s administration of steroids. She spent huge sums of money in courts for this purpose. But as you know, any person could read the news about the youngest British sportsperson that was caught utilizing forbidden medicines and suspended from rugby. Each person expected that Jonny Spelman would thank his parents for the efforts to hide the truth. But the situation turned out to be opposite.
Spelman’s son desires to become a famous professional bodybuilder. He wants to win the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for application 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 revealed that he used Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. Jonny Spelman shared own experience and asked for instructions about intake of certain steroids and stacks. The teenager also asked about ways of being on PCT.
Since he wrote about administration of steroids openly, administrators of Bodybuilding.com banned him. It led to the search of Jonny’s school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was found.
The teenager confirms that however his parents are rich, they don’t want 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 young athlete has goals and he doesn’t want to leave them. He plans to post 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.

Swedish experts: steroids influence on normal body fat distribution negatively

A precious study was conducted at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University. Specialists studied and defined connections between intake of steroids, fat distribution in body and certain unwanted reactions of anabolic steroids. The research has demonstrated that steroid users can suffer from abnormal fat distribution that can lead to heart attacks and other problems related to cardiovascular system.
The results of the research and conclusions are published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 elite lifters from Sweden were involved in the study. They apply anabolic steroids regularly. So, it was studied role of steroids in body fat distribution.
It is affirmed that lifters who use steroids possessing anabolic and androgenic properties 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 that apply steroids possessing anabolic and androgenic features. It has been observed that incorrect fat distribution may be a reason for diseases of cardiovascular system.
The lifters who were enrolled in the research were divided into 2 groups. Fat distribution was studied in lifters of the two groups. The lifters of one group applied anabolic steroids. The lifters of another group didn’t take steroids.
The study has demonstrated that those that apply steroids have more decreased fat deposits below the waist. Thus, they have more decreased levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner that is normally applied to study osteoporosis has been applied in order to measure fat distribution during the study.

Colin Daynes used steroids but he was not going to cheat

The Canadian wrestler Colin Daynes tested positive for prohibited preparations. It means that he will not compete at the Summer Olympics. He was given 2-year ban.
Last year the athlete 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 obtained a gold medal in the 74-kg weight class.
The wrestler tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Every of these products is in the list of banned drugs of the World Anti-Doping Agency. When it comes to Drostanolone and Boldenone, they belong to anabolic steroids. Furosemide is a diuretic medication. It is used as a masking agent for other medications. Tamoxifen is a medicine that is advised for prevention of negative reactions that appear due to usage of steroids.
The wrestler admitted to usage of forbidden medicines and accepted the sentence. The athlete claimed that he took the prohibited products in order to get recovery from an injury. The wrestler 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 doctor advised to administer these products. He also added that he hadn’t known that the medications were prohibited. According to his words, if he had known, he wouldn’t have competed.
The wrestler desired to represent Canada at the Olympics again. He represented his country at the 1996 Olympics which were in Atlanta.
The athlete didn’t try to defense himself. Colin Daynes noticed that there was no any difference whether the prohibited drugs were found in the blood or not. They were in the system.
Earlier this athlete also competed in mixed martial arts. Colin Daynes was going to qualify internationally. The wrestler thought that he would compete at the Olympic Games in London last time. Then the wrestler’s career ends. But he was banned  because of positives for banned medicines.
Bill Hogarth, Colin Daynes’ personal trainer, notes that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler didn’t desire to cheat. Hogarth hopes that Daynes’ reputation will not be destroyed. His career was marked by getting of 62 gold medals, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Australian judge didn’t sentence man that bought 1 kg of testosterone to imprisonment

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, a man from Australia, was accused of possession of almost a kg of Testosterone Propionate. He ordered powder of this medication via internet and obtained it from overseas. This man also desired to get benzyl benzoate, a chemical that is used in order to make solution for injections from powder. When police officers found out that this man ordered this chemical, they asked him about purpose of buying it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes claimed that he wanted to purchase 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 had two bags of white powder. He also acknowledged 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 he was in the court. He affirmed that he couldn’t lose weight, although he trained at the gym. So, he administered steroids to lose weight and look better. This person claimed that he hadn’t had any intention to sell steroids. He acquired the testosterone powder for personal usage.
A defense attorney for Carlton Alloysius Hayes affirmed that his client had a good reputation. He was ever a hard worker.
 Although he had to be sentenced to imprisonment because he got steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to sentence him to several months of suspended jail. So, this man escaped from prison.

International criminal group busted in Poland

A criminal group that produced and sold anabolic steroids was busted in Poland. Over 90 policemen and frontier police were involved in the investigation linked with this illegal drug ring. Customers were mainly from North America. Police officers arrested 19 individuals: 6 women and 13 men. They were accused of illicit manufacture and sale of steroids and money laundering.
Investigators defined that the drug ring was dealing with steroids since March 2008. The drug ring advertised steroids for increase of muscle mass and health in general. The drugs were offered for sale on internet. Persons from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. ordered and obtained illicit medicines.  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 group were raided. Police found large measures of steroids and packages that were prepared for shipment abroad. Some cars, 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 about 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was defined by investigators that three persons were leaders of the criminal group. They face 15 years in jail.
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 illegal drug ring. 7 individuals were arrested. Approximately 80 police officers were implicated in that investigation. Police officers also reported about medications that were found in possession of that group.

Does dutasteride affect muscle mass increased due to testosterone use?

According to a trial, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride (Avodart) doesn’t affect muscle mass in healthy men who apply testosterone.
A study connected with this issue was conducted. While fat-free mass was increased by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in males who applied dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was increased by 0,8-8,1 kg in those that used placebo and testosterone. As for muscle power, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in males of these 2 groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are utilized clinically to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are disorders that commonly occur in middle-aged and elderly males.
DHT represents the main metabolite of testosterone. But the function of DHT in human development is not is not understood. It is suggested that DHT plays vital role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and old men with reduced testosterone levels that administer testosterone medications have risks linked with decreased muscle mass and sexual troubles.
Nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are also currently studied and developed. It is claimed that SARMs and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are safe because DHT is probably not necessary for effects on fat-free mass, energy 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 define whether 5?-reduction to DHT is required in order to mediate androgen’s effects on fat-free 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 involved healthy males who were 18- 50 years old and had normal levels of testosterone. They used Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Quantities of Testosterone Enanthate ranged from 50 to 600 mg per week.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors enhance levels of testosterone, all men were given also gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in order to block natural testosterone.
The results of the research showed that fat-free mass was increased due to administration of testosterone. It didn’t differ essentially in men of these two groups. Muscle power which was also enhanced due to application of testosterone didn’t differ between the two groups too. Sexual activity, prostate volume, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ substantially between those who were given placebo and dutasteride.
The specialists affirm that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors may be limited in males who have normal or high testosterone levels. That’s why it is necessary to measure testosterone levels in order to determine how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the study has manifested that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Males have to know that if they have increased levels of testosterone or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not lead to shrinkage of prostate.

Operation Skype in Spain

Spain’s police busted a large doping ring.
According to statements of police officers, sportspeople that tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana obtained steroids and other related medications from this illicit drug ring.
10 individuals that were implicated in this drug ring were arrested. Professional cyclists and other athletes had links with this illicit drug network.  It was a prominent doping ring in the world of elite sport.
The investigation was called “Operation Skype”. The doctor  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the drug ring. 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.
Although the center of the doping ring was established in Barcelona, it was a multinational company. The ring was linked 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 professional rider 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 banned for two years due to positives for prohibited medicines.