Australian Olympic Committee: caffeine is used by athletes for increase of performance

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirms that caffeine should be included in banned substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates claims that caffeine induces addiction to sleeping pills and tranquilizers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers who took part at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics applied sleeping pills Stilnox. So, John Coates claims that usage of caffeine resulted in intake of Stilnox.
Stilnox is ordinarily sold under the name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy which is administered to cure insomnia.
The president of AOC confirms that sportspersons take caffeine in order to increase performance. Usage of this substance leads to insomnia. So, athletes should apply sleeping pills for treatment of 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 administering Stilnox to this swimmer at the time of the 2003 World Championships. As a result, Grant Hackett 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 administration of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of prohibited medicines. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to discover intake of this medication.
But as for 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 substances.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, confirms that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of forbidden preparations. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of forbidden products again.
Although many specialists claim that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this argument. He confirms that caffeine doesn’t impact on performance. He concludes that no any scientific literature describes ability of caffeine to increase performance.

Some former Olympians don’t want to see Dwain Chambers at 2012 London Olympics

The runner Dwain Chambers, who successfully served his 2-year ban for application of anabolic steroids, was chosen to be the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Chambers worries about the way to represent the native country. As for the British Olympic Association (BOA), they don’t want to see him taking part in the 2012 London Olympics. Several former British Olympians don’t support the consumer of steroids as well.
The British sprinter applied the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) elaborated by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin developed a method which could discover usage of THG, Dwain Chambers tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Of course, application of the steroid destroyed his reputation. When he attempted to come back to professional sports, the BOA decided to alter the laws in order to prevent appearing of the sprinter in the 2012 Olympics. The BOA has elaborated the rules that suspend steroid users from Olympics for the whole life.
Elaborating this rule, the BOA violated the doping code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This case resulted in many disputes and news.
The case was even examined in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The chairman of the BOA Loyd Moynihan put significant 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 claimed that Britain should not compromise. He claimed 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 represent Britain at the 2012 Olympics. This case turned out to be an open door for other athletes that have served their suspensions to take part in Olympics.
The cyclist David Millar and the shot-putter Carl Myerscough that have served their suspensions for usage of steroids will compete at the 2012 London Olympics too.
Despites wasting much time to keep former steroid users from Olympics, 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 Olympics. The CEO of the BOA Andy Hunt has confirmed that any athlete is treated the same way.

Steroid dealer Mihael Karner was not extradited to US

Lately a large steroid ring was busted in Austria. It was discovered that this company received 40 million Euros due to illicit distribution of steroids. Mihael Karner was claimed to be the leader of the steroid empire. The USA asked Austrian authorities to extradite this man to the US. But he avoided the extradition successfully. The steroid dealer gave one million Euros to Austrian authorities that sent him to Slovenia, his native country.
Slovenia’s laws are not the same as Austrian’s ones. According to the Slovenian Constitution, it is forbidden to extradite Slovenian citizens to another country. Mihael Karner turned out to be a lucky person. 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 linked with this steroid ring in 2005. The steroid ring began to function earlier. Federal prosecutors discovered that since 2000 till 2008 the company earned 40 million Euros due to illegal sale of steroids.
Federal prosecutors defined in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were involved in illegal sale of steroids but they couldn’t prosecute them because the Karners were in Austria. But later steroid laws in Austria were modified due to suppression by the US. Furthermore, the US promoted 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 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 suggested that he would be extradited. That’s why it was a real shock for the US, when it was learnt that Karner arrived to Slovenia safely. Thus, the USA was defeated this time in the struggle against steroids.

Jonny Spelman posts videos on YouTube in exchange for money

The Secretary for State for Environment Caroline Spelman and her husband put efforts in order to prevent publishing news about her son’s steroid use. She wasted significant sums of money in courts for this purpose. But as you know, anybody could read the news about the youngest British sportsperson that was caught using steroids and suspended from rugby. Everybody expected that Jonny Spelman would thank his parents for the efforts to prevent publishing news about him. But Jonny’s attitude turned out to be opposite.
Spelman’s son desires to become a celebrated professional bodybuilder. He desires to achieve the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for usage of steroids, Jonny Spelman was very 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 advices about intake of several steroids and combinations. The teenager also asked about ways of being on PCT.
Since he wrote about intake of steroids openly, administrators of Bodybuilding.com banned him. It caused the search of Jonny’s school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was found.
Jonny Spelman notices that however his parents are rich, they don’t want to support financially his efforts to become a professional bodybuilder. They have said him that he has to move out, if he desires to be a bodybuilder. But the young athlete has goals and he doesn’t want to leave them. He intends to host workout videos on YouTube and get money in exchange. Jonny Spelman adds that viewers of YouTube play a great role in his life because they help him to become a bodybuilder.

Why can steroids lead to heart attacks?

A precious study was conducted at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University. Specialists studied and set relations between intake of steroids, body fat distribution and certain negative results of anabolic steroids. The study has demonstrated that users of steroids can experience unhealthy fat distribution which may result in heart attacks and other dysfunctions of cardiovascular system.
The results of the research and conclusions are published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 10 Swedish elite lifters were enrolled in the research. They take anabolic steroids regularly. So, it was studied role of steroids in fat distribution.
It is stated that lifters who use anabolic-androgenic steroids have risks experiencing heart attacks. The experts at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University have studied the way body fat is distributed in lifters that apply steroids having anabolic and androgenic features. It has been seen that incorrect fat distribution may be a reason for disorders of cardiovascular system.
The lifters that were implicated in the research were divided into two groups. 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 apply steroids.
The study has displayed that those that apply steroids have more reduced fat deposits below the waist. Thus, they have more decreased levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner that is ordinarily applied to study osteoporosis has been used in order to determine fat distribution during the research.

Colin Daynes will not compete at 2012 Olympics

The Canadian wrestler Colin Daynes tested positive for forbidden medicines. It means that he will not compete at the Summer Olympics. He was sentenced to 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 acquired a gold medal in the 74-kg division.
The sportsman tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Each of these medications is in the list of forbidden medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. When it comes to Drostanolone and Boldenone, they are anabolic steroids. Furosemide is a diuretic medication. It serves as a masking agent for other preparations. Tamoxifen is a medication that is advised for prevention of undesirable effects which appear due to usage of steroids.
Colin Daynes admitted to usage of banned preparations and accepted the sentence. Colin Daynes said that he administered the forbidden preparations in order to get recovery from an injury. He told to The Star Monday night that he desired to recover in order to be able to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games. The athlete noted that a naturopathic physician advised to use these medicines. Colin Daynes also added that he hadn’t known that the medicines were forbidden. According to his affirmations, if he had known, he wouldn’t have competed.
Colin Daynes wanted to represent Canada at the Olympics again. The wrestler represented his country at the 1996 Olympics that were in Atlanta.
The athlete didn’t try to defense himself. The wrestler noticed that there was no any difference whether the banned preparations were found in the blood or not. They were in the system.
Previously this wrestler also competed in mixed martial arts. Colin Daynes was going to qualify internationally. The wrestler hoped that he would compete at the Summer Olympics in London last time. Then his career ends. But he was banned  due to positives for banned medications.
Bill Hogarth,
Colin Daynes’ coach claims that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler didn’t desire to lie. 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 man: 1 kg of testosterone was obtained for self-administration

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, a person from Australia, was caught possessing almost one kg of Testosterone Propionate. He ordered powder of this drug via internet and got it from overseas. This man also desired to get benzyl benzoate, a chemical that is used in order to make liquid for injections from powder. When police officers learnt that he ordered this chemical, he was asked about purpose of purchasing it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes affirmed that he desired to buy it for a friend. But he added that he had forgotten the name of the friend.
Then Hayes himself contacted policemen and asked them to come to his place. When they came, Hayes showed that he had 2 bags of white powder. He also admitted that he had ordered benzyl benzoate in order to mix it with the powder and ready liquid for injections.  
Carlton Alloysius Hayes weighed circa 156 kg, when he was in the court. He affirmed that he couldn’t lose weight, however he trained at the gym. Thus, he used steroids to lose weight and improve appearance. This person noticed that he hadn’t had any desire to sell steroids. He got the testosterone powder for self-administration.
A defense attorney for Hayes noticed that his client had a good reputation. He always worked hardly.
 Although he had to be sentenced to imprisonment because he purchased steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to give him certain months of suspended jail. Thus, this man avoided prison.

Polish police arrested 19 persons implicated in distribution of steroids

An illegal group that manufactured and offered for sale anabolic steroids was busted by Poland’s police officers. Over 90 policemen and frontier guard were implicated in the investigation connected with this illicit drug ring. Customers were chiefly from North America. Police officers arrested 19 individuals: 6 women and 13 men. They were charged with illegal manufacture and sale of steroids and money laundering.
Investigators set that the drug ring was dealing with steroids since March 2008. The drug ring advertised steroids for enhancement of muscle mass and health in general. The preparations were offered for sale on internet. Individuals from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. placed orders and obtained illegal preparations.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and delivered to customers. There was a person who was responsible for getting money and transferring it to members of the drug ring.
Homes and business offices of the steroid ring were raided. Police officers found large doses of steroids and packages which were prepared to be shipped abroad. Certain cars, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other objects were seized. The total value of seized objects and money was estimated. It was around 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was determined by investigators that three individuals were leaders of the illegal group. They face 15-year imprisonment.
This investigation conducted by Polish police officers turned out to be successful. It was not the first successful drug investigation in this country. Last year Polish police officers busted another illegal steroid ring. 7 individuals were arrested. About 80 policemen were involved in that investigation. Police officers also identified products that were offered for sale by that drug ring.

New study: dutasteride doesn’t affect fat-free muscle mass in men that use testosterone

According to a trial, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride (Avodart) doesn’t affect fat-free mass in healthy males who take testosterone.
A study linked with this issue was conducted. While fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in men who applied dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,8-8,1 kg in those who were given placebo and testosterone. As for muscle strength, sexual functions and volume of prostate, they didn’t differ in men of these 2 groups.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used clinically for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are dysfunctions which usually occur in middle-aged and old men.
DHT represents the main metabolite of testosterone. But the role of this metabolite in human development is not clearly understood. It is suggested that DHT has vital role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and elder men with low testosterone levels that apply testosterone medications have risks connected with reduced muscle size and sexual problems.
Nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are also currently studied and developed. It is confirmed that SARMs and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are safe because DHT is probably not necessary for effects on muscle mass, muscle power 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 needed in order to mediate androgen’s effects on fat-free mass. Moreover, the experts evaluated role of 5?-reduction on sexual functions, hematocrit and levels of lipid.
The study conducted by Bhasin and his colleagues implicated healthy males that were 18- 50 years old and had normal levels of testosterone. They applied Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Measures of Testosterone Enanthate ranged from 50 to 600 mg per week.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors enhance levels of testosterone, 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 intake of testosterone. It didn’t differ essentially in males of these 2 groups. Muscle power that was also enhanced due to application of testosterone didn’t differ between the two groups as well. Sexual activity, prostate volume, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ essentially between those who used placebo and dutasteride.
The specialists conclude that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors may be limited in men that have normal or enhanced levels of testosterone. That’s why it is important to check testosterone levels in order to set how bodies will respond to 5 ?-reductase inhibitors.
So, the study has displayed that muscle mass is not affected by 5?-reductase inhibitors.  Males should know that if they have enhanced levels of testosterone or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not cause shrinkage of prostate.

Huge doping ring was busted by Spain’s police

Spain’s national police busted a huge illegal drug ring.
 According to affirmations of police officers, sportspeople who tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana acquired steroids and other related medications from this illegal drug ring.
10 individuals that were implicated in this illegal drug ring were arrested. Professional cyclists and other athletes 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 named “Operation Skype”. The doctor  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the doping chain. He is a former physician of Liberty Seguros team. He was detained and sentenced to jail, when he tried to flee from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal coach of the athlete Marta Dominguez, was also arrested by Spain’s police.
Although the center of the illicit ring was established in Barcelona, it represented a multinational business. The ring was related to 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 rider of this team, tested positive for EPO at the 2010 Vuelta.
The investigation began summer last year. It was originally connected with the Spanish runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was banned for two years due to positives for forbidden medicines.