Weak Laws on Buying and Using Steroids

However, there is one problem for the host country. A recent report from a UK media revealed that the country has a loophole in its current laws when it comes to the use and importation of anabolic steroids. Experts say that this will affect the efficiency of the Olympic organizers to totally eradicate the use of performance enhancing drugs in the Olympic Games.

The law prohibits the importation of anabolic steroids if it is for sale and distribution. But if an individual bought it for personal consumption, it is not illegal. With this, some professional athletes may still be allowed to import or buy anabolic steroids as long as it is for their personal consumption. Olympic athletes may also bring in to the country this PED without being apprehended by the authorities.

Anti-Doping Agency’s Solution

Since the UK government has no plans of amending the existing law, anti-doping officials will instead intensify the implementation of the anti-doping laws. Target testing could be initiated if an Olympic athlete is suspected of using any banned substance.

A strict collaboration with the Border control agency will also help them catch doping athletes. “UK Anti-Doping has a two-way exchange of information with the border agency to ensure that information about athletes and support personnel can be used to identify trends and patterns and build up anti-doping rule violations,” according to a UKAD Intelligence officer.

The Sports Minister also said that they will be pushing for a 4-year ban on doping athletes. Under the WADA code, athletes who were caught using steroids, EPO, HGH or any other prohibited substance will only receive 2-year ban from the sport.

CAS on Lifetime Ban

The British Olympic Association and the WADA are both waiting for the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sports regarding the issue of lifetime ban on doping athletes. The WADA contested the existing policy of the BOA which prohibits sanctioned athletes from competing. Two elite athletes from the country are expected to be benefited from a favorable decision from CAS. They are sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar. A sports analyst estimated that there are at least 800 athletes around the world who will be competing in the London Olympics but had been suspended or sanctioned before for taking steroids or other banned substances. But for the BOA, they wanted a lifetime ban.

In an interview, David Millar said that every athlete should be given a second chance. “People do make mistakes and I think they should be punished but they should be forgiven and given the opportunity for a second chance. We are human beings,” said Millar. “Why should sports men and women get punished harsher than people in the normal world?”

But even if the lifetime ban is declared illegal, Millar decided not to represent his country in the London Olympics. He said he doesn’t want to be the black sheep. Instead, he is now focusing on the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The CAS will rule on April.

Drug Monitoring Programs Answer to Illegal Prescriptions

The main purpose of drug monitoring program is to help authorities in tracking suspicious prescriptions in the state. Every prescription will be entered into a database which can be used during investigations concerning doctors and patients. The monitoring focuses on prescriptions drugs commonly abused or misused. Painkillers like morphine and oxycodone are among these drugs. Anabolic steroids and human growth hormone are the recent additions to the list of substances that are monitored by the states with such programs.

In Texas, monitoring for prescription drugs has long been established. It started in 1982 and the information is sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Pharmacists around the state are required to enter important information on each prescription and recorded into a subscriber only database. With this system, patients who tried to get prescriptions from several doctors for the same drug can easily be traced.

Safeguards on Prescription Database

This year, Texas Prescription Program will become online which will give doctors and investigators access to it. Podiatrists, dentists, nurses, and veterinarians can also access the said database. However, the Legal Director of the ACLU of Texas, Lisa Graybill is concerned on how the information on the database will be used. Graybill told the CBS news that there are still some gray areas regarding the use of the prescription database. One of her concern is on how to safeguard the information and if authorities still need a warrant to access the database. Graybill noted that it could be used for “doctor shopping.”

Another issue is whether the government will monitor each access to the database and how they can protect the integrity of the database.

Prescription Drugs in the Database

The Texas Prescription Program monitors drugs like topical anesthetics with cocaine, morphine, Oxycodone, Lyrica and other drugs which are usually abused. Codeine and anabolic steroids prescriptions are also being monitored.

In the drug monitoring program of New Jersey, recording of human growth hormone prescriptions is also required.

While these drugs are used to treat various medical conditions, some patients abuse its use and some doctors also connived with them by making illegal prescriptions. In fact, the government already dismantled several networks of doctors, distributors and pharmacists who allowed patients to buy steroids or other prescription only drugs without any actual consultation or without any medical condition that must be treated.

Return to the Yankees

On March 17, Pettitte signed a one year contract with the team. Sports analyst believes that the Yankees has other plans for Pettitte. The team already announced that the pitcher will be participating in the spring training and this would mean he will not be playing exclusively for the minor league. He will surely be used to boost the Yankees arsenal. Though, this is not surprising since Pettitte helped the Yankees win 5 World Series titles in 13 seasons.

However, Pettitte will not only be seen pitching for the Yankees but will also appear in court when the retrial of Roger Clemens’ case starts in April. The prosecutions recently filed a supplemental trial memorandum that will include Pettitte as one of the major witnesses. The pitcher is set to testify against Clemens last year but the trial ended shortly when Judge Reggie Walton declared it as a mistrial. The prosecution presented to the jury a video already barred as evidence. The video is the testimony of Laura Pettitte, Andy’s wife, during the Congressional inquiry on the rampant use of steroids in baseball.

Andy’s Role in the Retrial

According to federal prosecutors, Andy Pettitte will be providing the court his personal knowledge on the use of human growth hormone. The pitcher admitted that he also used the drug to help him recover faster from injuries. He will also tell the jury that there were times that Brian McNamee, another major witness in the case, helped him administer the growth hormone drug. Another issue that the prosecution will use is the alleged admission of Roger Clemens to Pettitte about his use of HGH in 1999 and 2000.

Pettitte’s testimony will bolster the prosecution’s argument that Brian McNamee really injected Clemens with the performance enhancing drug HGH. McNamee told the investigators that he personally injected Clemens with human growth hormone on several occasions.

He even provided the federal investigators syringes, gauze and other evidences that will prove “The Rocket” really lied when he told the Congress he did not took anabolic steroids and human growth hormones.

Prosecutors Making the Final Stretch in the Case

Earlier, the prosecution also asked the court to bar the defense team from using the same argument in the mistrial saying it could influence the jury to absolve Clemens from the charges. The defense team, on the other hand, did not file any motion and declined to make further comments on the case.

Roger Clemens is facing 1 count of obstructing a congressional investigation, 3 counts of making false statements and 2 counts of perjury. Clemens insists he did not used steroids, human growth hormone or any performance enhancing drug. The jury selection will begin on April 16.

King Mo maintained his innocence about the controversial positive test result. He claimed that it may be due to an over-the-counter supplement that he was taking that caused the positive test. However, this kind of alibi is not viable anymore since most of the fighters caught using banned substances like steroids uses this contention. Cris Cyborg Santos also used this alibi when she tested positive for the metabolites of stanozolol, a type of steroid. But the athletic commission suspended her.

NSAC Handed 9 Month Suspension Plus Fine

Lawal decided not to contest the test result but explained to the commission his own side of the story. However, as expected, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) handed him the suspension. The former light heavyweight fighter of Strikeforce is ready to accept whatever decision the commission will make. “Whatever punishment you put in front of me. I’m a man and will take it like a man,” Lawal said.

The suspension and fine imposed on Lawal is too much for him. According to his manager, Lawal is already spending a lot on his medical bills. The Strikeforce fighter underwent surgeries and just recently recuperating from a Staph infection.

The NSAC suspended Lawal for nine months which is retroactive to the date of his fight with Larkin. Before he can return to MMA, he must submit himself to steroid testing and prove that he is clean before a fight license is issued. King Mo will forfeit his $15,000 win bonus. An additional fine of $24,000 is also imposed against the fighter. This represents 30 percent of his prize purse. His second round TKO over Larkin is also declared to a no-contest.

Strikeforce Released Lawal

After the NSAC issued its decision on King Mo’s steroid case, the parent company of Strikeforce, Zuffa, also decided to cut Lawal from the promotion. Sources said that Zuffa’s decision was based on the unethical tweets of Lawal after the NSAC hearing. Scott Coker of the Strikeforce confirmed this to an MMA site. “Following the outcome of today’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, STRIKEFORCE has released Muhammad Lawal from his contract,” Coker said.

Fightline quoted the tweets of King Mo which he later removed from the social media site. King Mo wrote: “I honestly feel like Lundvall was a racist (expletive) asking me if I can read or speak English. Go on somewhere with that (expletive)!!!”

He could still have his career if he knows the consequences of his actions. Branding the NSAC Commissioner as a racist only worsens his situation. Based on online reports, Lawal was agitated by the manner of questioning by Commissioner Pat Lundvall. It stemmed from the issue whether Lawal knows how to read and write. Lundvall questioned Lawal why he did not include the said “over-the-counter supplement” or any other medication in the pre-fight medical questionnaire.

Commissioner Has the Right to Ask

Though the tone of the question is a little bit harsh, the commission is right in asking Lawal and his manager why they did not include the supplement S Mass Lean Gainer when they signed the document. Do they have the intention to hide this medication hoping that it will not be detected by anti-doping tests?

According to Lawal, the supplement helped him strengthen his injured knee but failed to check whether it contain other substances banned by MMA. S Mass Lean Gainer contains drostanolone, an anabolic steroid that could help maintain strength even if the athlete is cutting weight. In interviews, Lawal insists he is not a cheater. He passed numerous Olympic style drug tests when he was still in amateur wrestling. With his impressive performance in MMA, it is not surprising if some people would suspect him of using anabolic steroids or any performance enhancing substances.

Right now, the former Strikeforce champion should just accept the consequences. And hope that after the suspension, Strikeforce will get him back in the cage.

State Funding on Steroid Tests

Comprehensive drug testing programs are implemented by several states in the country. An example is the state of New Jersey who annually grants New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) the sum of $50,000 to augment the steroid testing program in the state’s high schools. It aims to protect high school students and athletes from the dangerous side-effects of steroids and illicit drugs. The NJSIAA serves as the lone arbiter and drug testing program administrator. This year, the New Jersey state once again handed down to the NJSIAA its latest reimbursement covering the cost for the testing program in the school year 2011-2012.

New Jersey has been regarded as the first state to implement a comprehensive steroid testing policy for athletes at the high school level. The partnership agreement started way back in June 2006 where the NJSIAA receives a yearly reimbursement of $50,000 as an additional fund to its own $50,000 contribution. The state of New Jersey further commits in providing additional funding in the future.

Each test cost approximately $200 which is quiet expensive but doing so is very helpful in deterring high school athletes from steroids and performance enhancing drugs. The test already covers at least 80 banned substances. NJSIAA conducted 492 tests in the school year 2010-2011 from its 86 member schools. More than half of which was focused to student athletes involved in football, wrestling, swimming and lacrosse since steroid is very prevalent in these fields.

Drug Testing Effective in Deterring Steroid Use

The protocol of the joint drug testing program states that they NJSIAA has the authority to automatically suspend the athletes’ eligibility for one year if results are found to be positive for steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. The banned substances that are tested for are patterned after the list of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Athletes are randomly picked for drug testing through a computer system by the National Center for Drug free Sport. Samples are tested and analyzed by the UCLA Olympic and Analytical Laboratory.

Proponents of the drug testing program regard their achievements as a victory, claiming that most student athletes avoid using steroids because they knew that they could be chosen for drug testing any time.

Effects of Steroid to the Body of Young Athletes

Anabolic steroids rapidly improve different muscles in the body marking an increase body strength and stamina. The effects of steroids on young athletes are more dangerous since their bodies are still growing. Using anabolic steroids can trigger adverse effects to their physical and mental development.

Steroid use for long period of time can affect bodily functions including the natural production of testosterone, hair loss and balding, infertility in women and impotence for men. Behavioral problems, development of inappropriate sexual characteristics, insomnia and risk of heart disease are likely to be expected for someone who uses steroids.

Despite the side effects, there are still student athletes who turn to anabolic steroids in order to cope up with the ever-increasing competitiveness in high school sports. This is the reason why many state athletic associations continue to implement comprehensive drug testing program.

WADA President John Fahey told Bloomberg recently that national anti-doping agencies must adopt a more robust blood testing program to catch doping athletes. “What we’re seeing happening is another disappointment to us. Sports generally are not spending enough on anti-doping agencies and not putting enough blood testing forward. That being the case, I suspect HGH cheats are getting away with it,” Fahey said.

Funding Common Problem of Anti-Doping Agencies

WADA oversees the programs of various anti-doping agencies. The International Olympic Committee and other major sports organizations follow the WADA code. But most national anti-doping agencies can’t cope up with the stringent policies of WADA.

The usual problem is the availability of funds to pay for the laboratory tests. Blood testing for example is a more expensive method of detecting human growth hormone. Collecting and transporting blood samples to accredited laboratories is also expensive. Traditional urine testing may not be able to detect all type of anabolic steroids. Additional tests would mean additional cost to the sport organization or anti-doping agency.

Solution to Catch HGH Users

According to Fahey, agencies must increase the rate of blood testing to 15-20 percent to be more effective in catching cheating athletes. “What is an effective and robust program? It’s a hell of a lot more than 2 percent of the samples being blood samples. It’s probably got to be 15 percent, or maybe 20 percent blood samples to be effective,” Fahey said. Last year, the anti-doping body already made recommendations that blood testing must be at least 10 percent of the total number of tests conducted.

Based on previous statistics, the blood testing only comprise a little more than 2 percent of the entire samples subjected to laboratory tests. Out of 258,267 samples taken from in- and out-of-competition worldwide in 2010, 5,000 were blood samples. So far, there were only 3 professional athletes who were caught using HGH. Synthetic HGH is only detected through blood tests while anabolic steroids can be identified using urine tests.

The anti-doping body also approved a new testing method for HGH. This will be used when the 2012 London Olympics starts. Anti-doping scientists said that this method will improve the detection period for the synthetic HGH from the usual 48 hours to at least a week after the PED was taken.

UKAD and Cycling Hailed by WADA

Fahey commended the UK Anti-Doping and the sports of cycling for their efforts in curtailing the use of steroids and human growth hormones. In this year’s Olympics, the UKAD is expected to conduct 7,000 tests and 10 percent of this will be for blood tests. They also built a high-tech laboratory for the Olympics to ensure dopers will be caught.

Professional cycling, which is plagued by PED use years ago, already implemented major changes in its anti-doping policies. A lot of cyclists were involved in the use of performance enhancing drug like EPO, anabolic steroids, and even blood doping. But the recent policies of the sports organization are seen as an effective deterrent to dopers.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) adopted a biological passport program which will monitor all drug test results of a cyclist. This could be used as a basis for determining if the athlete is doping. Another key policy is the whereabouts program of the UCI. They also increased the number of blood testing. Out of 13,057 drug tests conducted last year, 5,154 were for blood tests. Fahey said that cycling is now addressing the doping problem in their sport.

The case of these women’s relay team shocked the country’s sports last year when they were included in the 7 track and field athletes who tested positive for anabolic steroids. The sports ministry immediately initiated a thorough investigation and they found out that these elite athletes were victims of tainted supplements. While they are on the training camp, the Ukrainian coach gave them ginseng supplements. It turned out that the supplements contains steroids which led to the suspension of the women athletes. They were given a reduced one year suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency. The members of the 4×400 relay team are Ashwini AC, Priyanka Panwar, Sini Jose and Tiana Mary Thomas.

WADA’s Appeal Futile

In the previous month, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) contested the 1 year suspension of the disciplinary panel. WADA argued that anti-doping rules should be followed thus the standard 2-year ban on doping athletes must be applied. Athletes should be held accountable for whatever supplement or medications that are found to be containing banned substances.

However, the National Anti Doping Appeal Panel (NADAP) turned down their appeal and even further reduced the sanction. Allowing the athletes to take part in Olympic qualifying matches. Though they wanted to exonerate the athletes, NADAP noted that the WADA rules prohibit them to do that. Instead they retroactively move the start of the ban to the date when the sample was collected. This will give the women athletes a good chance to enter the Olympic qualifying competitions which will be held in July.

NADAP Defended the Runners

NADAP explained in its decision that the women athletes should not be solely blamed for the positive steroid test. They pointed out the circumstances surrounding the case. Some of the important issues that convinced them to further reduce the ban.

- the supplement, which is the cause of the positive steroid test, was provided by their coach
- the Athletics Federation of India has been supplying ginseng and other supplements to athletes even before the Commonwealth Games but run out of supply during the training camp last year.
- the coach is appointed by the Indian government so the athletes rely on him
- the women contend that they were not able to differentiate the ginseng supplement given by the athletics federation and by their coach.
- the women athletes came from poor families and some of them can’t read or write English.
- they don’t have access to the internet to search for the ingredients or content of the supplement they were taking.
- they can’t afford to pay for their own coaches, doctors and nutritionists to ensure they are taking legal supplements. the panel also added that these athletes can’t afford sending these supplements to laboratories to see if they are contaminated with steroids.
- the women relay team also passed previous steroid tests.

The appeal panel further explained that these athletes relied solely on the sports institution in the country. They could not reasonably known or suspected that the supplements were contaminated. “The best the athletes can do, in developing nations like India, is to completely subject themselves to the training of professional coaches and physicians in such national institutes to avoid any possible risk of the use of prohibited substances,” they said.

The track and field athletes also cooperated during the investigation. They even gave sample of the ginseng supplement which contain the steroids stanazolol and methandienone for laboratory testing.

IAAF the Last Stumbling Block

The women relay team should hope that the IAAF will not block their Olympic dream. Two other Indian runners, Mandeep Kaur and Juana Murmu, who also tested positive for steroids is now facing legal battle in the highest sports court. The International Athletic Federation appealed to CAS questioning the 1-year suspension on the two athletes.

If the four golden girls will be allowed to participate in the Asian All-Stars in Almaty, Kazakhstan on June 30-July 1, they will for sure have a bigger chance to run in the London Olympics. However, WADA has another option in blocking their Olympic bid. They can also elevate the case to CAS.

Mosley’s Previous Steroid Issues

The allegations of steroid and performance enhancing drug use publicly drag Sugar Shane Mosley to legal battle in court. Victor Conte, the founder of a California based Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) claimed in a Daily News article that Mosley was aware that he was injecting himself with an illegal performance enhancing steroid known as EPO. Conte further said that that he taught Mosley how to use the BALCO’s designer drugs and inject the endurance supplement EPO.

The statement of Conte was disputed by Mosley, and firmly denied the accusation. Mosley acknowledges being a BALCO customer, but he says Conte promised him that the substances he was being provided were legal non-steroids. He released a public statement saying that his PED use was done unintentionally. He then filed a $12 million defamation suit against Conte in 2008 which was eventually dismissed in 2010.

Steroid Testing by VADA

The decision to conduct drug testing with the VADA is perceived as a strong statement from Mosley coming out from his steroid controversy. VADA is an organization led by its president and founder Dr. Margaret Goodman, a former ringside physician and Medical Advisory Board Chairman for the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Reports shows that Shane Mosley and Canelo Alvarez both agreed to undergo random steroid testing under VADA. Dr. Margaret Goodman confirmed that they’ve been contacted about the matter but will not give further comment until everything is 100% finalized. The first boxers to voluntarily submit to VADA terms aside from the regular testing of the state athletic commissions are Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto.

Olympic Style Drug Testing Barrier to Martinez-Chavez Fight

The clash between the Ring and WBC middleweight title holder, Sergio Martinez and the WBC middleweight title holder, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is still not seen to pursue due to Olympic style drug testing terms.

Both sides already discussed the possibility for a September 15 fight in Las Vegas but negotiations wasn’t pushed through because the Argentine fighter requested for a random drug testing at par with the Olympic drug testing protocol. The demand of Martinez for a more stringent drug testing could be connected to the November 2009 incident where Chavez was tested positive for diuretic leading to his 7-month suspension. Diuretic is an illegal substance that helps lose water weight. It is also used to cover up steroid in a drug test.

Chavez Jr. was also involved in a controversial incident last February in his fight with Marco Antonio Rubio. He had a hard time making the weight requirement. In addition, the post fight drug test was not administered to Chavez and Rubio. The Texas athletic commission and the WBC blamed each other for not coming up with a post fight steroid test.

Incidents implicating the possible involvement of Chavez Jr. to steroid use may have raised the concern of Martinez camp for a more stringent drug test. Martinez told the Boxing Scene that if a fighter is clean, then Olympic style drug testing won’t be a problem. Martinez further stressed that this is the perfect chance for Chavez Jr. to clear his name from anabolic steroids issue.

However, media reports said Chavez Jr. rejected the request of Martinez for Olympic style steroid testing. The WBC gave both parties until April 16 to decide on the terms or will be forced to make the middleweight title vacant.

They conducted several raids across the country and confiscated various doping materials including anabolic steroids and blood bags. The probe which they called Operation Greyhound was considered as one of the successful efforts of the government in curtailing the illegal distribution and administration of performance enhancing drugs in Spanish professional sports.

The first probe conducted in 2006, the Operation Puerto, also targeted elite athletes who were involved in doping. Most of them were charged by the authorities. And in the latest investigation called Operation Skype, 10 people were charged including the alleged mastermind of the international doping network. Police alleged that a Spanish doctor was involved in providing various doping substances to elite athletes including those who participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and other world championship events.

Court Declared Operation Greyhound Illegal

In the recent decision of a court in Madrid, evidences gathered and raids conducted in several areas in Spain were declared illegal. According to a Reuters report, the investigation was given the go ahead on illegitimate grounds. “The police sought judicial authorization to record phone conversations (of suspects) and the judge agreed without the existence of a basic and consistent investigation,” the court said in its ruling. The authorities acted based on speculations and not based on concrete evidences. “It was based on mere conjecture, speculation and generalizations, without the rigour required to prove a crime of doping in sport.”

The court ruling will invalidate the seized evidences like anabolic steroids, blood samples, and blood transfusion equipment. Without these evidences, the police could not pin down the respondents for trafficking of drugs and crimes against public health. Aside from elite athletes, Operation Greyhound also charged pharmacists, sports doctors, coaches, trainers and sports agents.

Professional Athletes in the Operation Greyhound

After more than a year, respondents in the Operation Greyhound fought their cases in court. One of the elite athletes involved in the alleged organized doping in Spain is the world steeple chase champion Martha Dominguez. However, Dominguez was able to clear her name in the 2 charges filed against her. She also maintained her innocence in the steroid probe.

Unfortunately, one athlete nabbed in the steroid probe committed suicide. Cyclist Alberto Leon ended his life in January 2011. He was accused of participating in an organized doping scheme on professional athletes. According to police, the 37-year old mountain bike competitor, made doping plans for athletes, administered anabolic steroids and EPO, and was also involved in illegal blood transfusions. Leon was also investigated in the 2006 Operation Puerto.

Martha Dominguez, who was then a high ranking sports official in Spain when she was implicated in the probe, already returned to track and field. She participated and won the 10 miles Divina Pastora de Madrid in late October last year.

She told the media that she’s eyeing the 2012 London Olympics. If she qualifies, it will be her 4th Olympics appearance. “If I don’t pick up an injury I’ll arrive in condition for the Olympic Games. I dream of winning an Olympic medal,” she said. Dominguez is highly regarded in Spain as one of the best athletes of the country. She won the gold in steeplechase at the world championships in Berlin in 2009. Although she was unlucky in the 2008 Beijing Olympics because of an accident in the final heat.

Her other achievements include the 2002 and 2006 European Athletics Championships 5000m titles. Another is her title in the 2007 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.

One of the popular performance enhancing drugs that has been used by athletes for years is the anabolic steroid known as nandrolone decanoate. The most popular brand for this drug is Deca Durabolin. In medicine, it is recommended by physicians for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women wherein Nandrolone aids in the production of new blood cells in the bone marrow. Those who suffer from degenerative disorders are also advised to take nandrolone to promote muscle and tissue repair.

Athletic Benefits of Nandrolone

The medical benefits of nandrolone are also seen by professional athletes as a way to achieve an improved athletic performance. Although there is no medically prescribed dosage for athletic use and it is illegal to use nandrolone without prescription, many athletes and bodybuilders use nandrolone as an attempt to increase their muscle growth and strength.

Nandrolone acts in the body in the same way as the male hormone testosterone. Like any other anabolic steroids, it effectively promotes muscle tone and density. The effects of nandrolone are usually temporary but through a continuous high protein diet, athletes can build muscle tone sufficiently. The amount of fatigue during athletic training is reduced as nandrolone facilitate in the efficient consumption of protein in our body.

Athletes can train for longer periods without getting tired as nandrolone sustain their body with their desired increased stamina level for more rigorous workout. Endurance and increased resistance is achieved as the level of muscle glycogen repletion is increased every after a tough exercise regime.

The increase production of proteins through the use of Nandrolone further aids athletes in a more speedy recovery time from injuries. Torn muscles and damaged bones can also repair themselves in a shorter amount of time. Increased feelings of competitiveness and aggression are also believed to be triggered with the use of nandrolone, which can be an advantage in any sporting events. The benefits of the drugs are overflowing but some side effects such as development of inappropriate sexual characteristics and risk of suffering from heart attacks cannot be avoided.

Athletes Enthralled by the Benefits of Nandrolone

Several prominent athletes have been given lengthy bans for testing positive for nandrolone. Many minor league players who are part of the Dominican Summer League already received suspension from the Major League Baseball after testing positive for this anabolic steroid.

Enyelberth Pena, Alejnadro Arteaga, Aderly Dela Cruz and William Abreu were just some of the minor leaguers slapped with 50-game suspension due to nandrolone use.

A lot of other professional athletes were also reported to have tested positive for nandrolone long after using the drugs. This is a usual occurrence since the drug has a long half-life. High profile cases of nandrolone use include tennis player Petr Korda, Belarusian ice hockey player Vasily Pankov, UFC fighter Sean Sherk and British sprinter Linford Christie.

Former world 200-metre champion Merlene Ottey and Charlie Hunter are also among the athletes who’ve tested positive for nandrolone. There are also cases of nandrolone use in the sports of professional cycling, basketball, and football.