We have heard a lot of stories about professional athletes blaming the food they eat particularly meat as the culprit in their failed steroid tests. Tour de France champion Alberto Contador tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol but the cyclist argued that it was caused by a contaminated meat. Several Mexican football players flanked a steroid test in the recent World Cup. All of them argued that their positive test could be due to eating meat fed with a type of steroid, Clenbuterol. An Olympic medalist in weightlifting was also caught by anti-doping authorities with high levels of Clenbuterol but he pointed the authorities to pork chops as the source of the steroid.

Anti-doping Agencies Discourage Athletes from Eating Tainted Meat

In the previous months, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was also alarmed by reports that the use of the steroid clenbuterol in cattle farms in China and other parts of the world is still rampant. WADA has been very vocal on the risks of clenbuterol tainted meat. In fact some sports organizations warned their athletes not to eat meat products from certain countries just to make sure they will not test positive for steroids.

And the latest agency to warn athletes about the dangers of eating contaminated meat products is the Food Standard Agency of the United Kingdom. In a recent advisory, the FSA told athletes to avoid eating liver as this meat product may contain high amounts of the steroid clenbuterol. The UK Anti-Doping Agency already warned their Olympic athletes about this issue. They won’t want their athletes become victims of unintentional doping especially that the 2012 Olympics in London is getting near.

According to the FSA, eating large portion of bovine liver with high concentration of clenbuterol can lead to a positive test for steroids. Though it still depends on a lot factors such as the amount of liver consumed, the levels of clenbuterol in the meat, the time of testing, and the methods used to analyze the samples.

A positive test before and during the Olympics can lead to disqualification and a 2-year ban from their sports.

Clenbuterol is banned in Olympics

Clenbuterol is a steroid formulated for animal use. It is used by cattle farmers to speed up muscle growth of their livestock. It also promotes lean muscles so that would mean better market prices for the meat products. However, the use of Clenbuterol has spread to bodybuilding and professional sports. Most bodybuilders use this steroid as a fat burner. It is usually recommended during a cutting cycle where the athlete or bodybuilder wants to shed more fats before and after going on a steroid cycle.

The use of clenbuterol comes with side effects. It can increase the heart rate, cause nervousness, headache and muscular tremor. But some athletes, these are overshadowed by the benefits they get from this steroid.

Meat Source of Protein

Sports organization will be facing a hard time identifying contaminated meat. Professional athletes will never know if the menu from restaurants or meat products from the groceries are free from this type of steroid. Meat is a great source of protein. It is a part of the usual diet of training athletes so it’s hard to eliminate this food from the menu.

Athletes and Olympians will always face the risk of ingesting contaminated meat. So it will not be a shock if there will be more news of Olympic athletes testing positive for Clenbuterol. And besides, there are still some who intentionally use this steroid to gain competitive advantage.

Before the year ends, a lot of cases involving the use of anabolic steroids still made it to the headlines. Illegal purchases and as well as distribution of the said performance enhancing drugs are still widespread not just in the country but in other parts of the world as well. People involved in these activities may have varying reasons but one common objective is for their personal interest. Users want to have bigger muscles and stamina while distributors want to earn money from selling these controlled substances.

Bodybuilder Imported Steroids and HGH from China

But not all people are lucky. Some of them were caught and ended in jail. Just recently, a man from Missouri pleaded guilty to illegal purchases of bodybuilding steroids. He is facing up to 5 years in prison plus fines that may reach up to $250,000. Gregory L. Loomans, 40, of St. Charles County, MO pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to posses with the intent to distribute human growth hormones in the area. His main customers were also bodybuilders.

According to reports, Loomans, together with a conspirator, imported human growth hormones and steroids from China. The defendant earned at least $10,000 from the steroid distribution activities. Aside from selling steroids to bodybuilders, Loomans also used some of them. His sentencing is scheduled on March 16.

Former Athletes Leads a Doping Ring in Spain

Meanwhile, a doping ring was busted in Spain according to a recent Associate Press report. The Civil Guards who spearheaded the investigation said that the doping ring operators include 3 former athletes and 3 medical employees from Valencia. The raids were conducted in different cities in Spain including Valencia, Cantabria, Sevilla and Barcelona. There were 18 suspects who are in the custody of the authorities. Their names are still withheld while the investigation is still on-going.

Authorities seized thousands of doses of various performance enhancing drugs which include anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. Muscle building clenbuterol and the famous blood-boosting drug EPO are in the list of PED’s confiscated from the suspects. The target customers of the group are athletes and bodybuilders.

Citizen Attempted to Smuggle Steroids in Airport

In Croatia, Customs officers in the Zagreb Airport prevented an attempt by a Croatian citizen to smuggle thousands worth of vasodilation pills and steroids. The drugs were found inside a suitcase. The passenger claimed that it only contains clothes but an inspection revealed 46,976 different kinds of vasodilation pills such as Viagra. There were also 2,135 ampoules of steroids. A case was already filed against the citizen for his attempt to smuggle controlled substances in the country.

The World Kabbadi Cup was also marred by the high number of athletes caught using performance enhancing drugs. In India, 20 players failed the steroid tests conducted by the anti-doping authorities.

As long as these anabolic steroids provide benefits to these athletes, regardless of the side effects, they will continue to use them to enhance their performance in sports or improve their physique.

India’s Sports Ministry and as well as various sports organizations were shocked when six of their women elite athletes tested positive for anabolic steroids in the middle of this year. Most of them are Olympians who are vying for the London 2012 Olympics. The regular random steroid tests were conducted in the different training facilities in India.

Track and Field Athletes Facing 2-year Suspension

However, the athletes who failed the steroid test contend that they are not taking performance enhancing drugs. They blamed their Ukrainian coach for giving them over the counter supplements which contain the banned substances. In the laboratory analysis of the supplements given to these women athletes, one particular supplement showed the specific anabolic steroid that was also found in their system.

Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogorodonik was fired and left the country when the scandal happened. The coach argued that he should not be held responsible for the fiasco. It was also found out that the sports organization in India run out of stocks of the recommended and legal supplements. This forced some of the athletes to buy from local health stores. One of the supplements given by the coach is ginseng.

AC Ashwini, Sini Jose, Juana Murmu, Mandeep Kaur, Priyanka Panwar and Tiana Mary Thomas all failed the steroid test in May and June of this year. Anti-doping experts found in their system traces of stanozolol and methandienone, both are anabolic steroids banned by WADA.

The athletes appealed their case hoping that the automatic 2 year ban will not be enforced against them. The panel hearing the case is expected to make decision on Friday. According to these women athletes, they should not be banned from track and field since it was not their fault. They seek refuge in the “no fault or negligence clause” of the World Anti-Doping (WADA) code.

If the panel would hear their plea, these six athletes may be given a reduced penalty but may still be banned from participating in international sports competition. Another scenario is if lawyers of the athletes will be able to convince the panel to exonerate them, there could be a chance that Ashwini and the group can still take a shot at the Olympics in 2012.

NADA Intensify Crackdown on Doping Athletes

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) also handed 2 year bans on 5 Indian athletes. These athletes competed in national competitions this year. “We have banned five athletes as we aim to root out doping altogether from the system,” NADA’s director-general Rahul Bhatnagar said.

sprinter Hemant Kirulkar, long distance runner B Madhusudhan, hammer thrower Gaurav Bhardwaj, shot put thrower Budhisatva Banerjee and javelin thrower Megha Pardeshi all failed the steroid testing of NADA. Reports showed that Madhusudhan and Pardeshi both tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. Kirulkar tested positive for oxandrolone while Bhardwaj tested positive for nandrolone. Methylhexanamine, a banned stimulant, was found in Banerjee’s system.

20 Indian Kabbadi players are also facing suspension when they tested positive for steroids before the World Cup

When sports media picked up the story on Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun, all they’ve got is the alleged positive test of the MVP player. A report stated that Braun failed the steroid test because his testosterone level is above normal. It was also alleged that a confirmatory test revealed that it was coming from a synthetic type of testosterone. However, there is still little information about this issue since the Major League is not issuing public statement because Braun already appealed his case. Even the Milwaukee Brewers has been mum on the case.

Braun Claims He’s not Doping

In earlier interviews, Braun told the media that there is no truth in the alleged doping. His camp also issued a press release saying that the player is optimistic that he will be able to clear his name.

Many were surprised about Braun’s alleged positive test for steroids. Others even want Braun to return his MVP award if he is really using performance enhancing drugs. Right now, professional athletes who are involved or being suspected of using steroids are already considered guilty by most fans even before the real truth comes out. Since baseball players are pressured to excel in their sports, many players are still tempted to take performance enhancers whether banned or legal.

According to Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, there are still at least 30 to 40 percent of baseball players who are into performance enhancing drugs. This assumption is still high as compared to the actual number of players caught by the league. The percentage is not limited to steroid use but also include the intake of stimulants and other PED’s. Conte believes that the use of PED’s increases during the offseason where there is no testing. In another interview, he also contend that the current testing methods of the league is not sufficient to catch cheating athletes. This is also true in the inclusion of HGH testing in the anti-doping program of the MLB.

New Sources Say its not PED

Recent information coming from sources close to Ryan Braun claims that the failed test is not due to steroids but for another banned substance. Though the source did not say what particular substance that caused the positive test, some sports writers guess that it could be an stimulant. Stimulants, though banned in the league, can be found in energy drinks and other over the counter supplements. If is not anabolic steroids, Braun might be given a 25-game suspension. Failed tests as a result of taking anabolic steroids puts a player into an automatic 50-game suspension.

Moreover, the source added that the positive test was triggered by a medication Braun was taking for a medical condition. This could be another alibi or maybe the MVP just failed to check the label of his medication. Braun’s camp did not give further information on the players alleged medical condition.

The source said that Braun was telling the truth and they are optimistic that the positive test will be overturned. That means it will be classified as a false positive. The MLB has yet to decide on the appeal and it is expected that the league will finalize its decision early next year.

Professional athletes adherence to steroids has become arguably the most sensational and controversial issue in recent sports history. But beneath the clamor, use of performance-enhancing drugs by high school athletes should be considered a more critical issue.

To regulate the use of steroid in high school sport players, the University Interscholastic League conducts drug test with the National Center for the Drug Free Sport to randomly chosen schools. This year, it was the first time Houston Sterling High School had been chosen for steroid testing.

The school administration however is now faced with two-year probation and had been publicly reprimanded after notifying its athletes through a phone call the night before the scheduled test would be conducted.

Officials Apologized for Violating Steroid Testing Rules

Rules of Drug Testing states that if the student skip the test or is absent on the day the drug test is conducted they will be considered having a positive test. However, the officials are not allowed to notify students that they will be up for a drug test even if the drug testing company informs the schools administrator 24 to 48 hours before arriving on the campus.

Sterling acting Principal Sam Rodriguez explained that the school did not intend to cheat on the drug test but is merely worried that their athletes would be absent which can be considered a positive test and result in a ban for competition. School officials apologized at a hearing conducted before the University Interscholastic League in Austin for violating a state law.

The school officials itself, reported the violation upon realizing they committed a violation of UIL rules. This urgent move saved Houston Sterling High School for more severe consequences. The University Interscholastic League could have imposed much harsher punishment but considered that the athletes should not be the one to suffer for the mistake of their school administrators. Probation was opted by UIL instead of banning the Texas High School from the competition for the sake of the students.

Stiffer penalties are agreed upon if Sterling High School will be caught breaking the rules again for the next two years due to the probation penalty they received.

Schools Should Know the Steroid Testing Protocols

The superintendent of Sundown Independent School, Mike Motheral together with the other members of the UIL executive committee criticized Sterling officials for not knowing all the rules of the testing program which was carried out since 2008. High school athletes from Texas had been randomly selected for drug test wherein the last report showed that amongst the 2,083 that had been tested out of 135 schools only one person tested positive for the drug.

Young athletes regard steroids as magic bullets that will incite their body to train harder, swim faster, jump higher and hit several homeruns for the victory of their team and their schools. Emerging winner amidst the intense competition among high schools is what these teenager sports enthusiast long for.

Young Athletes Taking Chances but at Risk of Suffering Side Effects

With the growing concern that teenagers as young as 13 are injecting steroids in attempt to stand out in their chosen sports pushed Texas and other states to initiate programs that will level the playing field of participants by not just providing data regarding steroid use. Ways to reduce the temptation brought about by the promising results of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are also being implemented by schools.

High school athletes are being warned that these drugs may give enormous benefits for the time being but can yield harmful or even deadly consequences in the future.

The leading anti-steroid crusader in the country honored a university athletic director who took the courage in initiating a comprehensive steroid testing in his university. This led to the major changes in the sports program of Canadian universities right now where anti-steroid programs are given much importance. The University of Waterloo Athletic Director Bob Copeland becomes the second recipient of the “Taylor’s Award” from the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

The award is given to personalities who made major contribution in the curtailment of steroids in the sports. The foundation first recognized the effort of Bud Selig of the Major League Baseball. The league has been helping in the anti-steroid campaign of the foundation across the country.

Copeland’s Decision Revealed Rampant Use of Steroids

Don Hooton cited the courage displayed by Bob Copeland in handling the steroid problem in his university. It is common that officials will be on the defensive side but Copeland chose the other path by recommending a team wide steroid testing of the UW Warriors football team. Because of his decision, the rampant use of steroids in his team was discovered. 9 football players failed the steroid test while another one tested positive for human growth hormone. The incident was considered as one of the worst doping scandal in Canada and had caused a massive overhaul of the sports programs of many Canadian universities. CCES and CIS also adopted more stringent measures and intensified their campaign against the use of steroids in college sports.

“Bob has shown tremendous leadership in addressing this issue within university sport in Canada including key roles as a member of a National Task Force as well as his role as Chair of the OUA Performance Enhancing Drugs Education Task Force; on his own campus, several promising new initiatives have been developed to better address policy, education, and testing regarding APEDs,” said Don Hooton during the awarding ceremony.

The award was presented to Copeland during the Ontario University Athletics football summit. “I’m extremely proud to present Taylor’s Award to Bob Copeland. As a result of Bob’s leadership, and that of the University of Waterloo, the performance enhancing drug problem in university sports is now being addressed in a much bigger way across Canada,” Don Hooton said. The president of the foundation hopes that the changes being implemented in Canada will be adopted also by US universities and other countries as well.

Don Hooton also commended the decision of UW administration by supporting the crackdown on doping athletes in the university. Copeland said that the welfare of the student athletes and integrity of the university is more important than public relations issues.

Improved Steroid Education Programs

Copeland’s advocacy and the support of the university helped create positive changes in university sports across Canada. “Improved education programs are being implemented for both athletes and coaching staffs, and much more thorough testing regimens are being implemented to monitor this drug usage,” Don added.

With this kind of recognition, there will be more school and sports officials who will not put a blind eye on issues such as doping of their athletes.