Sep 10 2010
Waterloo Makes History: First hGH Positive in North America Came from the University Football Team
Sports authorities in Canada are now sure that the use of performance enhancing drugs in university sports is a major problem that needs to be addressed immediately. The recent announcement of Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) that a football player from the University of Waterloo tested positive not only for steroids but also for human growth hormone is alarming. “We have suspected that hGH has been abused by certain athletes in an effort to cheat. We now have the proof,” said Paul Melia, head of the CCES. “However, it is alarming and of great concern that its presence has been detected with our young athletes,” he added.
The remaining names of the 9 football players who failed the tests, admitted to taking steroids or refused to take the mandatory test were made public. University of Waterloo Warriors center Spencer Zimmerman-Cryer admitted to taking anabolic steroids. He was given 1 year suspension because of his early admission of the violation. The steroid that he took was Oral-Turinabol.
Receiver Aubrey Jesseau returned a positive test for steroid and was given a 2-year suspension. The adverse analytical finding showed that Jesseau used Stanozolol, another substance banned in the WADA Prohibited List. The football player waived his right to a hearing and acknowledged the violation.
Linebacker Brandon Krukowski, who was already named in the steroid investigation by the police, was given a 4-year suspension because of his refusal to be tested. Online reports showed that Krukowski admitted to the doping violation and was also using steroids. He was also charged by the authorities, together with Nathan Zettler, with possession of steroids for the purpose of trafficking. This was one of the reasons why he was given a much longer punishment.
The last player who also failed the test was running back Matt Socholotiuk. His test result showed a high level of testosterone. Socholotiuk requested for a hearing but did not submit himself to the panel. The CCES imposed a 3-year suspension on Socholotiuk. But the most interesting part on the test result of the football player was the adverse analytical finding for HGH or human growth hormone. He was the first player in North America caught using hGH.
Though hGH is very useful in treating some medical conditions, it is abused by some amateur and professional players to gain competitive advantage. Some of its side effects include diabetes, early onset of osteoarthritis, heart diseases, and muscle, bone and joint pain.
CCES urged all sports leagues to help them curtail the problem of steroid and hgh use by amateur and professional athletes. “The recent decision by the Canadian Football League to test for hGH is a step in the right direction, but they are not the only ones who influence young Canadian athletes,” said Melia. “I invite all of the professional leagues and their players’ unions in North America, such as the NFL, MLB, and the NHL, to accept their social responsibility and the powerful role they can play in the fight against doping in sport,” said the CCES chief.
Melia believes that the professional leagues can become role models for the young athletes if they impose stricter anti-doping policies which should include hgh testing. The continuing resistance of the players union in including hgh tests can send a wrong signal to aspiring young athletes. Melia stressed that there is a proof that the test is now reliable. “They need to stop sending a mixed message to our children and youth that it is okay to cheat and risk your health to set records and pursue winning at any cost.”
Right now, the University of Waterloo football program is still suspended. The high number of players using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs is a deliberate attempt by athletes to dope, to cheat the system, to take a shortcut and to succeed at any cost according to Paul Melia. Anti-doping expert Christiane Ayotte said that the result is unprecedented. “It was a surprise to us that that level of sophistication would be found in university sports,” she said.
Melia also warned young athletes who would try to use banned substances. The advancement in technology increased their ability to detect prohibited substances like HGH.
[...] had incited the interest of international media. Of course, who would not cover news about the first HGH positive in North America? This is now a national concern that must be addressed not only by the university but also by the [...]
[...] second athlete caught using HGH is a football player from the University of Waterloo. This was also considered as the first hgh case in North [...]
[...] The steroid scandal that rocked the University of Waterloo football team was considered as one of the worst controversy in Canadian sport after the case of Olympian sprinter Ben Johnson. The anti-doping authorities found at least nine players who are involved in the use of banned performance enhancing drugs. Some of the athletes admitted that they took steroids like Winstrol to help them improve stamina and physique. A player also tested positive for human growth hormone. The UW football player was the first athlete in North America to fail HGH testing. [...]
[...] the steroid test. His test result showed positive for human growth hormone. Socholotiuk is the first athlete caught for HGH in North [...]