Caffeine leads to addiction to sleeping remedies

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) claims that caffeine should be included in forbidden substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The president of the AOC John Coates notes that caffeine promotes addiction to sleeping tablets and tranquilizers.
It is known that the Australian swimmers who participated at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics took sleeping tablets Stilnox. So, Coates believes that application of caffeine led to intake of Stilnox.
Stilnox is ordinarily sold under the trade name Zolpidem. It is a sleeping remedy that is administered to cure insomnia.
The president of AOC notices that sportspeople use caffeine in order to increase performance. Consumption of this substance leads to insomnia. So, athletes have to apply sleeping tablets in order to cure insomnia.
 The AOC and Swimming Australia want to prohibit usage of caffeine. It is their response to the disgrace linked with Grant Hackett. A physician recommended using 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 famous swimmer. He won numerous 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 confirmed that usage of Stilnox is widely spread among Australian swimmers.
Stilnox was never on the list of forbidden medications. Anti-doping agencies didn’t conduct tests to disclose usage of this drug.
But as for caffeine, earlier it was banned by the WADA. But since it became widely spread and consumed in society, it was excluded from the list of forbidden preparations.
John Fahey, the president of the WADA, states that the WADA made the right decision and excluded caffeine from list of banned medications. He confirmed that caffeine would not be included in the list of forbidden substances again.
However a lot of specialists state that caffeine is a performance enhancer, John Fahey contests this argument. He confirms that caffeine doesn’t influence on performance. John Fahey concludes that no any scientific literature proves capacity of caffeine to increase performance.

BOA couldn’t prevent participation of Dwain Chambers at 2012 Olympics

The British track sprinter Dwain Chambers, that successfully served his 2-year ban for application of anabolic steroids, was chosen to be the representative of Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.
Chambers worries about the way to represent the home country. When it comes to the British Olympic Association (BOA), they don’t want to see him taking part in the 2012 Olympics. Several former British Olympians don’t support the steroid user as well.
The British sprinter used the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) elaborated by Patrick Arnold. After Don Catlin elaborated a method which could detect THG, the sprinter tested positive for this steroid. It was on November 7, 2003.
Of course, intake of the steroid destroyed his reputation. When he attempted to come back to professional sports, the BOA decided to change the laws in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers in the 2012 Summer Olympics. The BOA has elaborated the rules which suspend steroid users from Olympics for the whole life.
Introducing this rule, the BOA violated the doping code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This situation resulted in numerous disputes and news.
The case was even presented in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Loyd Moynihan, the chairman of the BOA, put great efforts in order to prevent appearing of Dwain Chambers or other steroid users at Olympics. Such former Olympians, as Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson, loudly supported efforts of the BOA.
 Daley Thompson wrote 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. Chambers was allowed to be the representative of Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This aspect 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 administration of steroids will compete at the 2012 Olympics as well.
Despites spending much time to prevent appearing of steroid users at Olympic Games, the BOA finally claimed that not only Dwain Chambers but also Millar, Myerscough or any other athlete that has served a suspension successfully may compete at Olympic Games. Andy Hunt, the CEO of the BOA, has confirmed that any sportsperson is treated the same way.

Mihael Karner paid one million Euros to avoid extradition to US

Lately a huge steroid ring was busted in Austria. It was defined that this company earned 40 million Euros due to illegal distribution of steroids. Mihael Karner was considered to be the leader of the steroid ring. The USA asked Austrian authorities to extradite this man to the US. But the steroid dealer avoided the extradition successfully. Mihael Karner paid one million Euros to Austrian authorities that sent him to his native country Slovenia.
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 is a lucky individual. If he had not avoided the extradition to the USA, he would have probably gone to 40-year imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors started the investigation connected with this steroid empire in 2005. The steroid empire started to function earlier. Federal prosecutors defined that since 2000 till 2008 the company got 40 million Euros due to illegal drug trade.
Federal prosecutors determined in 2005 that Mihael Karner and his wife were implicated in illicit distribution of steroids but they couldn’t pursue them because the Karners were in Austria. But later steroid laws in Austria were changed due to suppression by the US. Moreover, the US promoted the arrest of Mihael Karner and his wife.
However the US tries to enforce other countries of the world to extradite steroid dealers to the USA, it doesn’t have great success in this area. But the persons who 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 believed that the extradition would be successful. 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 wants to become professional bodybuilder

Caroline Spelman and her husband tried to prevent publishing news about her son’s application of steroids. She wasted significant sums of money in courts for this goal. But as you know, anybody could read the news about the youngest British athlete who was caught utilizing forbidden products and suspended from rugby. Everyone expected that Jonny Spelman would thank his parents for the efforts to hide the truth. But the teenager’s attitude turned out to be opposite.
Spelman’s son desires to become a prominent professional bodybuilder. He desires to win the title of Mr. Olympia.
As for application of steroids, Jonny Spelman was too open. He wrote about own application of steroids on Bodybuilding.com and on bodybuilding forums of other sites. He confirmed that he administered Anavar, Dianabol, Winstrol and Testosterone. Spelman’s son shared own experience and asked for guidelines about intake of certain steroids and stacks. He also asked about ways of being on PCT.
Since he wrote about usage of steroids openly, administrators of Bodybuilding.com banned him. It led to the search of Jonny’s school room. As a result, drug paraphernalia was found.
The young athlete affirms that however his parents are rich, they don’t want to support financially his efforts to become a professional bodybuilder. They have told him that he should move out, if he desires to be a bodybuilder. But the teenager has goals and he doesn’t want to leave them. He plans to host workout videos on YouTube and receive money in exchange. The teenager concludes that viewers of YouTube play a significant role in his life because they support his efforts.

Should be steroids blamed for unhealthy fat distribution?

Recently some experts at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University conducted a valuable research. Specialists studied and set links between intake of steroids, body fat distribution and several undesirable results of anabolic steroids. The study has demonstrated that consumers of steroids may experience unhealthy fat distribution which may cause heart attacks and other troubles linked with cardiovascular system.
The results of the study and conclusions were published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
 Ten top lifters from Sweden were involved in the study. They apply anabolic steroids regularly. Thus, it was studied function of steroids in fat distribution.
It is stated that lifters who take anabolic-androgenic steroids face risks suffering from heart attacks. The specialists at Lulea University of Technology and Umea University have studied the way body fat is distributed in lifters that use steroids possessing anabolic and androgenic features. It has been seen that incorrect fat distribution can be a reason for dysfunctions of cardiovascular system.
The lifters that were involved in the research were divided into two groups. Fat distribution was studied in all lifters. The lifters of one group took anabolic steroids. The lifters of the other group didn’t administer steroids.
The research has shown that those who administer steroids have more decreased fat deposits below the waist. Thus, they have more reduced levels of gynoid fat.
DEXA scanner which is commonly utilized to study osteoporosis has been applied in order to measure fat distribution in these lifters.

Colin Daynes was banned by Canadian Ethics in Sports

Colin Daynes, a Canadian wrestler, tested positive for forbidden substances. His Olympic dreams will not become real. He was sentenced to 2-year ban.
Last year the sportsman was chosen for the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
 The athlete was sentenced to the ban by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports. He failed a drug test, when he won a gold medal in the 74-kg weight category.
The athlete tested positive for Drostanolone, Boldenone, Tamoxifen and Furosemide. Every of these medicines is in the list of banned medicines of the World Anti-Doping Agency. As for Drostanolone and Boldenone, they belong to anabolic steroids. Furosemide is a diuretic medication. It is applied as a masking agent for other products. Tamoxifen is a medicine that is recommended for prevention of negative results that appear due to steroid use.
The sportsman admitted to administration of prohibited medications and accepted the sentence. The wrestler said that he used the banned preparations for getting or recovery from an injury. He told to The Star Monday night that he wanted to recover in order to be able to participate in the 2012 Olympics. Colin Daynes noticed that a naturopathic doctor recommended administering these products. He also added that he hadn’t known that the medications were forbidden. According to his words, if he had known, he wouldn’t have participated in competitions.
Colin Daynes was going to represent Canada at the Olympics again. He represented his country at the 1996 Olympics which were in Atlanta.
The athlete didn’t put efforts to defense himself. He noted that there was no any difference whether the prohibited preparations were found in the blood or not. They were in the system.
Previously this athlete also competed in mixed martial arts. Colin Daynes had to qualify internationally. Colin Daynes thought that he would compete at the Summer Olympics in London last time. Then his career ends. But he was sentenced to ban because of positives for banned preparations.
His personal trainer Bill Hogarth notices that that the things are too bad. But the wrestler didn’t want to cheat. Hogarth hopes that the wrestler’s reputation will not be destroyed. During his career he obtained 62 gold medals, 11 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Australian man was going to use 1 kg of testosterone in order to lose weight

Carlton Alloysius Hayes, a person from Australia, was caught possessing almost a kg of Testosterone Propionate. He placed order for powder of this product on internet and acquired it from overseas. This person also desired to buy benzyl benzoate, a chemical which is utilized for preparing of solution for injections from powder. When police officers found out that this person ordered this chemical, he was asked about purpose of purchasing it. Carlton Alloysius Hayes affirmed that he planned to purchase it for a friend. But he noted that he couldn’t remember the name of the friend.
Then Hayes himself contacted police officers and asked them to come to his place. When police officers came, Hayes showed that he possessed 2 bags of white powder. He also admitted that he had ordered benzyl benzoate in order to mix it with the powder and prepare solution for injections.  
Hayes weighed about 156 kg, when he was in the court. He noticed that he couldn’t lose weight, however he trained at the gym. So, he used steroids to lose weight and improve appearance. This person affirmed that he hadn’t had any intention to distribute steroids. He purchased the testosterone powder for personal intake.
A defense attorney for Carlton Alloysius Hayes noted that his client had a good reputation. He always worked hardly.
 Although he had to be sentenced to prison because he purchased steroids from overseas, the judge’s decision was to sentence him to certain months of suspended jail. So, he escaped from prison.

Huge steroid ring in Poland

An illegal group that manufactured and sold anabolic steroids was busted in Poland. Over 90 police officers and border guard were involved in the investigation connected with this illegal steroid ring. Customers were chiefly from North America. Police officers detained 19 individuals: 6 women and 13 men. They were accused of illicit manufacture and distribution 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 well-being in general. The medicines were offered for sale per internet. Persons from the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, etc. ordered and acquired illicit medications.  Steroids were packed in fake packages and delivered to customers. There was a member of the group that was responsible for getting money and transferring it to members of the company.
Homes and business offices of the steroid ring were raided. Police officers found huge dosages of steroids and packages which were prepared to be shipped abroad. Several cars, including BMW X6, Mercedes S500 and Jeep Grand, watches, jewelry and other things were confiscated. The total value of seized objects and money was estimated. It was circa 1 million Polish zlotys.
 It was set by investigators that three individuals composed the leadership of the criminal group. They face 15-year imprisonment.
This investigation conducted by Polish police was successful. It was not the first successful steroid investigation in this country. Last year Poland’s police busted another illicit steroid ring. 7 individuals were arrested. About 80 police officers participated in that investigation. Police also identified medicines that were offered for sale by that drug ring.

Muscle strength caused by testosterone use is not affected by 5-alpha reductase inhibitors

According to a trial, the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride (Avodart) doesn’t influence negatively on fat-free mass in healthy males who take testosterone.
A research linked with this issue was conducted. While fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,6-7,1 kg during 20 weeks in males that used dutasteride and Testosterone Enanthate, fat-free mass was enhanced by 0,8-8,1 kg in those that applied 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 to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and androgenic alopecia. These are disorders which usually affect middle-aged and elderly men.
DHT represents the chief metabolite of testosterone. But the function of DHT in human development is not is not understood. It is supposed that DHT plays vital role in development of prostate and phallus.
Middle-aged and elder males with decreased testosterone levels who apply testosterone medicines have risks connected with reduced muscle mass and sexual troubles.
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 supposedly not necessary for effects on muscle mass, muscle power and sexual activity. It is also doubted whether DHT has any role for androgen’s effects on hematocrit, hemoglobin, lipids and certain other factors.
Shalender Bhasin and his colleagues at the Boston University have conducted a clinical trial in order to see whether 5?-reduction to DHT is required in order to mediate androgen’s effects on muscle 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 administered Testosterone Enanthate and dutasteride or placebo. Measures of Testosterone Enanthate ranged from 50 to 600 mg weekly.
Since 5 ?-reductase inhibitors increase levels of testosterone, all men were given also gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in order to block natural testosterone.
The results of the study manifested that fat-free mass was enhanced due to usage of testosterone. It didn’t differ significantly in men of these two groups. Muscle power that was also enhanced due to administration of testosterone didn’t differ between the two groups too. Sexual functions, volume of prostate, sebum production, hemoglobin, acne, hematocrit didn’t differ substantially between those who took placebo and dutasteride.
The experts note that effectiveness of 5?-reductase inhibitors can be limited in men that have normal or high levels of testosterone. That’s why it is necessary to check levels of testosterone in order to determine 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 testosterone levels or introduce exogenous testosterone in their bodies, 5?-reductase inhibitors will not lead to shrunken prostate.

Spain’s police busted doping ring that provided banned drugs to athletes that took part in 2008 Olympics

Spain’s police officers busted a large doping ring.
 According to affirmations of police officers, athletes who tested positive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vuelta a Espana got steroids and other related medicines from this doping ring.
10 individuals who were involved in this drug ring were detained. Professional cyclists and other athletes had relations with this illicit drug network.  It represented a prominent source of steroids and other related drugs in the world of elite sport.
The investigation was called “Operation Skype”. Dr.  Alberto Beltran Nino was the leader of the doping ring. He is a former doctor of Liberty Seguros team. This person was detained and sentenced to imprisonment, when he tried to flee from Madrid to Columbia. Cezar Perez, the former personal trainer of the athlete Marta Dominguez, was also arrested by Spain’s police.
Although the center of the doping ring was set in Barcelona, it represented a multinational company. The ring was linked with Morocco and Columbia. Steroids, HGH and EPO CERA were offered for sale by this illegal drug ring.
The doctor Beltran also worked with Xacobeo-Galicia team. David Garcia, the professional rider of this team, tested positive for EPO at the 2010 Vuelta.
The investigation started summer last year. It was initially linked with the runner Jose Luis Blanco after he was banned for two years because of positives for forbidden preparations.