Another MLB star player recently tested positive for testosterone. The 28-year old Ryan Braun of Milwaukee Brewer was found positive in the drug test as per the report submitted by WADA. The positive result was triggered by elevated levels of testosterone in Braun’s system. To affirm the result the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal conducts a more comprehensive secondary test to determine whether the testosterone was a result of natural variations within Braun’s body or from a synthetic source. The test results however indicated that the testosterone came from outside his body.

With the Braun’s case being in dispute, we can’t help but to know the root cause of sport controversies over performance enhancing drugs. A better understanding of the effects of testosterone in an athlete was explained by Dr. Robert Prost, a biophysicist at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The doctor was interviewed during the Wisconsin’s Afternoon News with John Mercure on News Radio 620 WTMJ.

In sports it is oftentimes assumed that if you’re stronger, your possibility in performing better is higher. This is exactly what the athletes sought for. Dr. Prost lined a stream of benefits that athletes wanted so much to achieve with the help of illegal performance enhancing drugs.

Testosterone Helps Build More Muscles

The use of testosterone encourages muscle cells to build more muscle cells. In which according to Dr. Prost, an athlete do not just develop bigger muscle cells but more often it makes the total muscle grow stronger. With the use of testosterone you’re likely to have more red blood cells due to the decrease of the conversion of muscle cells to fat cells inhibiting the death of muscle cells you have. This occurrence therefore, does not just provide an athlete more strength but also allows a faster recovery time to engage in a work out and build more muscle.

Synthetic testosterone can transform an athlete to a super-athlete with stronger and bigger muscles. These amazing results lure several athletes in trying injectable form of testosterone. With the old steroids, it would take almost two months to get out of the body circulation. Athletes turn to the injectable forms of steroids with a typical half-life of under a week to exit the body. In only a matter of three weeks time an athlete turning to testosterone for help can usually get rid of what he has taken, Dr. Prost further explained. This new method of releasing the testosterone out of your system helps athletes avoid detection during drug test.

Dr. Prost further speculates that since player can be randomly tested for up to two times a year, testosterone users may took the chance and start using testosterone right after the first test. This scenario may work for some but remains risky depending on how much notice is given before the next test is to be made.

Warning on Possible Side Effects

Beneficial it may be, Dr. Prost warned that testosterone is something that could bring a lot of bad side effects. Injectable testosterone can promote prostate cancer, increase blood pressure and whole list of health problems. In spite of this, there are several athletes who adhere to testosterone supplements to help them train harder and excel on their chosen sports. The solution is to find safe testosterone supplement that are legal to use. While most testosterone are banned in major sports, athletes can best consider legal way of succeeding in their respective fields through approved testosterone supplement therapy and of course, extensive training.

After almost a decade of steroid investigation, Baseball’s home run king only received 30 days home confinement. A decision that makes the government unhappy. The prosecution lamented that a home confinement is inappropriate and something of a slap on the wrist. They wanted at least one and a half years prison term for Barry Bonds. However, Judge Susan Illston followed the recommendation of the Probation Office.

Bonds’ case is the longest running steroid case in the history of professional sports in America. His conviction ended the most hype steroid investigation in the country but also led the government to spend millions of dollars for investigation and prosecution. Bonds was only convicted on the obstruction of justice count but was able to get away with other charges. The prosecution was not able to prove that the home run king knowingly used anabolic steroids and received injections of human growth hormone.

Sentence was to Lenient

Judge Illston gave Barry Bonds with 2 years probation, 30 days home confinement and required to perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine. According to a prosecutor, the fine is laughable and the home confinement in his Beverly Hills Mansion with 6 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, large swimming pool and other amenities will not in any way affect Bonds.

Legal experts already expected this to happen. Other prominent athletes involved in the BALCO steroid scandal also received similar sentences. Professional cyclist Tammy Thomas, NFL player Dana Stubblefield and track and field coach Trevor Graham received probation and home confinement for steroid perjury and obstruction of justice conviction. Bonds was the last of the defendants in this high profile case involving several personalities in professional sports.

According to Judge Illston, the conviction of Bonds is already an aberration in his life. The letters from private individuals also helped convince the Judge to give a lighter penalty. She cited the charitable acts of Bonds for decades. The Judge also said that the conviction did not demand for a stiffer sentence. “The jury got it exactly right here: Mr. Bonds made an effort to obstruct justice, but I also find he didn’t succeed,” said the Judge.

Sentence on Hold Pending Bonds’ Appeal

Another blow to the government’s effort to jail the home run king for his involvement in steroids is the decision of the judge to postpone the implementation of the sentence. Judge Illston also ruled that the sentence will be put on hold pending the appeal of Barry Bonds. Bonds’ lawyers told the media that an appeal will be filed immediately at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They still believed that Bonds was wrongfully convicted of a felony.

An appeal would mean another legal battle for the government. According to legal experts, it would take at least another year to resolve this case in the Court of Appeals. If upheld, Bonds’ probation will only start on 2014. There is also a possibility that the conviction will be overturned.

Barry Bonds is already eligible in the 2013 Hall of Fame and voters will still weigh if Bonds deserves to be inducted in HOF. Other baseball stars involved or admitted to taking steroids are having a hard time getting the necessary votes to get to Cooperstown.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this December was welcomed with much hype. According to the study author, Dr. Waldemar Carlo, giving steroids to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth as early as 23 weeks can opt for a prenatal steroid to boost an infant’s chance of survival. The new study further asserts that it can also reduce the baby’s risk of serious developmental issues, including brain injury.

The current medical guidelines suggest that prenatal steroids should only be administered to women who are at risk for delivering between the 24th and 34th week of their pregnancy. With its prime purpose of helping the infants’ lungs develop and increase survival rate while decreasing the risk of brain injury, prenatal steroid has been a great help for mother with high risk of delivering before the normal 38-42 weeks of pregnancy. It is not however been administered to women who show signs of labor before week 24.

Promising Results

Researchers presented a new study conducted on about 10, 500 infants who were born at 22 to 25 weeks between January 1993 and January 2008 in 23 medical centers in the United States. The preterm babies weighed roughly 2 pounds at birth. Comparison among infants who received prenatal steroid to those who did not was carefully observed, analyzed and evaluated by the stream of qualified researchers headed by Dr. Carlo. These researchers also carried out neurologic exams on more than 4, 900 surviving infants at 18 to 22 months after their original due dates.

Research data of Dr. Carlo and his colleagues includes that there is indeed a more pronounced improvements in babies aged 24 weeks with 80.3 percent who lived compared to 68 percent who died or had brain damage after getting steroids.

Among babies administered with prenatal steroids at 23 weeks, about 83 percent are fatal casualties or some developed brain problems by aged 18-22 months. However, a greater portion for about 99 percent premature babies delivered before 24 weeks that were not given steroids either died or showed brain damage.

Death Incidence Reduced by 33 Percent with Prenatal Steroids

Dr. Waldemar Carlo, head author and director of the division of neonatology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham claims that this data shows that there is still a huge potential to increase the use of prenatal steroids. To back it up, their study shows that when steroids was dispensed to mothers during 22nd and 23rd week of pregnancy the risk of infants’ death is decreased by more than 33 percent. The percentage of risk for neuro-developmental delays which may include hearing impairment, blindness, cerebral palsy and severe delays in motor and cognitive issues dropped for more than 20 percent.

It is further claimed that the prenatal steroid treatment worked across many subgroups of pregnant women. Dr Carlo also noted that even a single dose to pregnant women with high risk of preterm delivery can result to some important effects.

The new study did not found any occurrence of potential infection in pregnant mothers whose immune system would go down after being given steroids. It was also concluded that the infection rate for mothers did not increase with the use of antenatal corticosteroids.

The chief of maternal-fetal medicine at the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Great Neck, New York, Dr. Burton Rochelson, regard the findings of the study as important facts suggesting a petty convincing evidence for the use of prenatal steroids for infants between 22 to 23 weeks old.

In order to reduce mortality and morbidity rates among preemie babies Dr. Carlo and colleagues impel for a more extensive research and doctors are further advised to consider giving preterm mothers steroids starting at 23 weeks gestation period followed by intensive care to insure more success rate.

MLB Players Association agreed with the the league that they need to submit to blood testing to ensure that they’re clean and to protect the credibility of the league. Various steroid scandals have tarnished MLB’s reputation and it needs to bounce back. If blood tests for HGH becomes a part of the anti-doping program of the league, then the league can again claim that America’s favorite past time is a clean sports.

Existing Methods not Effective says Conte

BALCO founder Victor Conte has provided performance-enhancing drugs or PED to elite stars in various sports before he got busted sometime in 2003. He claimed that human growth hormone (HGH) testing is ineffective because it leaves the system fast. The test can’t also detect a small amount of testosterone, which is usually taken with HGh. He said that MLB must show sport aficionados, critics, players, and the world of sports that they have state-of-the-art equipment to more effectively detect testosterone.

HGH helps athletes to lessen muscle degradation. It also helps them maintain the advantages that they got from their past steroid consumption. HGH doesn’t show any vital performance-enhancing results if used by itself. Testosterone or related anabolic steroids must be used along with it.

Today, Conte advocates for stronger drug testing and he’s been stating for quite some time that epitestosterone to 4-to-1 ratio utilized by MLB and other sport leagues in detecting testosterone consumption isn’t effective.

He also states that patches, creams, and gels can clear an individual’s system within several hours. An athlete who uses testosterone can consume a fast-acting testosterone type at night after playing to have a normal T/E ratio before his next game.

Adopt New and Fool-Proof Testing Methods

Conte is advocating CIR or carbon isotope ratio testing, which is an expensive testing for sincere leagues that want to catch players who are using fast-acting testosterone. He is challenging MLB’s sincerity in determining cheating players. He believes that through implementation of CIR testing, the primary baseball league will catch more players who are using testosterone.

In his words, MLB and the Players Association must implement excellent blood-testing like what the agreement says. The league must also establish a standard for hematocrit levels in the blood that can be the result of EPO or other related blood-booster steroids. If an athlete’s hematocrit level is over 50 percent, then he will get suspended because the blood is thicker than usual and there’s a health risk. So, if a player is not really consuming EPO but is only dehydrated, as long his hematocrit level is higher than usual, then he has to be suspended.

MLB Wanted to be the First League to Adopt HGH Testing

MLB’s latest accomplishment of extended labor peace with MLBPA or Major League Baseball Players Association happened last 22 November 2011. That basic agreement between MLB and its players run for five years and it will expire 1 December 2016.

Michael Weiner, MLBPA’s executive director, cherishes his feat. He’s been getting high fives from his peers in the industry for the MLB’s primary collective bargaining test. The agreement is not the first in North American professional sporting league since the NFL did it first. However, MLB wanted to implement HGH testing the soonest to claim the lead in anti-doping initiative.

Technology continues to improve and it includes medical measures in sports like blood testing. In due time, blood testing will be cheaper and more accessible and they can help any sport leagues to boost their credibility.

Steroid use in sports might affect how people respect athletes but it’s understandable. Most athletes will do anything possible to always be in their top shape even at the cost of their career.

Some people lambasted the NFL Players Association for causing the deadlock in the previously agreed HGH testing with the league. The commissioner’s office was very optimistic a few months ago that the football league will be the first to adopt a comprehensive anti-doping policy which will include testing for human growth hormones. However, after consultation with the World Anti-Doping Agency, the player’s union changed its stance on the proposed anti-doping program.

There were mixed reactions on this issue. Some of the forerunners in the anti-doping initiative think that the refusal of the union to accept the testing is an indication that they don’t want the league to catch doping football players. The existing program only includes steroids but the use of human growth hormone is increasing in the field of sports. Critics say that the football players are not spared from the popularity of this performance enhancing drug. If the players resist the implementation of HGH testing, does it mean they don’t want to be caught?

Valid Reasons for Refusing HGH Tests

Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post has a good explanation on this issue. The players union may have a valid reason for their continued refusal to just accept the methods of testing for HGH. The union blamed the WADA for the latter’s failure to disclose significant information about the test. Though HGH testing has been in use in the Olympics for several years now, representatives of the players union still questions its validity. In the meeting with WADA officials and scientists, the union claimed that the agency did not provide them proof that the methods currently used for HGH testing is reliable. Executive Director DeMaurice Smith of the NFLPA told the media that WADA is more interested in bullying them to accept the test than in scientifically supporting and justifying their testing protocol.

Jenkins said that the WADA should also take part in the blame for its lack of transparency and refusal to answer some basic question from the players union. She asked if there is enough independently published medical science that validates the test. “How was it devised, and its parameters established?” Jenkins added.

Anti-Doping Experts urge WADA to be More Transparent

Anti-doping expert Don Catlin, though he doesn’t want to take side in the issue, is also wondering why WADA is keeping some of the information. If the agency had enough data to support their claim that the HGH testing method is accurate, why not make it public and allow other scientists to review and validate the data. “I don’t understand it. Scientists with a good finding are usually crawling to get published in a peer-reviewed journal so the world can see it,” said Catlin.

Another anti-doping expert, Chris Yesalis of Penn State, also agreed that the players union has the right to ask about the validity of the HGH test. “I love sport, but I’m not going to sacrifice scientific method to play cops and robbers,” said Yesalis who wrote books about anabolic steroids. The professor also questioned the claim of WADA regarding the false positive ratio of the HGH tests. WADA have not published studies that would back up their claim. “That’s not how science is done. You publish, make it public, and let other scientists try to replicate your results,” added Yesalis.

For Jenkins, this standoff could be solve if the league will just develop its own testing. Another thing is to allow a neutral agency handle the HGH testing. The football players only wanted transparency.

While Jose Canseco was blacklisted in the major league for writing steroid books and exposing the rampant use of performance enhancing drugs in the league, others are still taking the same path for whatever reasons they may have. In the latest news in baseball, former pitcher John Rocker adds to the increasing number of players who made public confessions on their use of steroids. The pitcher also wrote a memoir.

John Rocker pitched for the Atlanta Braves. The left handed pitcher started his career in 1998 and ended in 2003 with the Tampa Bays. He had in his stats 13-22 with a 3.42 ERA and 88 saves. He made this in 280 games in six seasons. Rocker made headlines in 1999 when he was interviewed by Sports Illustrated about PED’s in the sports.

League Knows the Positive Test

In the recent interview of Mike Silva, the pitcher disclosed that the major league insisted he be tested for steroids after the controversial SI interview in 1999. Rocker admitted that he failed the steroid tests. In that year, the MLB has no established anti-doping program yet. But the pitcher argued the league knows his positive tests. “And you mean to tell me the commissioner’s office who insisted over two weeks over four different occasions that I take a steroid test, they don’t know the result of said test?” he said.

Rocker contends that steroid use in that era is common. “Let’s be honest. Who wasn’t (using)?” he told Silva. But the commissioner’s office was silent about the issue hoping it will protect the reputation of the league. However, a few years later, the real scenario in the major league was opened to the public because of investigations and whistle blowers.

Steroids Helped Him Pitched 4mph

When asked by Silva if steroids really helped him become a better pitcher, Rocker said in the negative. However, he admitted that because of steroids he can throw a 3 or 4 mph ball. Rocker defended his use of steroids citing the expectation of the team and the fans. And his contention that everybody’s taking it. “The reason was (for taking it) with my teammates and their confidence laying on my shoulders, with the coaching staff and their confidence on my shoulders, with the millions of Atlanta Braves fans, I am not going to step on that mound with that kind of responsibility with my gun half loaded,” he said.

Just like with other self-confessed steroid users, the former pitcher of the Atlanta Braves seemed to be remorseful of his steroid use. “I wish 37-year old John Rocker could go back and punch 23-year old John Rocker in his face,” he said.

Steroid Book: Scars and Strikes

Now that his confession is made public, can Rocker expect baseball fans to take a look at his steroid book? The book “Rocker: Scars and Strikes” can be another blow to the major league. However, its content may not be too damaging since many steroid books already covered the rampant use of performance enhancers in that era. We’ll see if this tell-all steroid book is similar to what Canseco wrote.