Doping in sports nowadays

Recently Alan Abramson wrote an article where he noticed whether tests conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) were efficacious.
The WADA conducts many tests for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs every year. It seems that those that apply steroids and/other related medicines are caught. Someone may think that the world of sports and professional bodybuilding will be soon cleansed from usage of banned products. For example, many tests for prohibited preparations have been conducted at the 2012 Olympic Games.
But some questions appear here. Are these tests sophisticated enough to catch any person that dopes? Are these tests efficacious?
Let meditate over results of certain tests. In 2010 the WADA published statistics according which 258,267 samples were analyzed by 35 WADA-accredited labs. Out of these samples 4,820 results represented atypical findings. About 60 % of positives indicated about steroid use. Many positives were for cannibinoids. 10 % positives indicated about application of marijuana. As you observe, only 60% out of those that took prohibited medications applied steroids. Is it real? Don’t show the results of the tests that the WADA doesn’t do the job properly?
The former president of the WADA Dick Pound considers that at least 10 % of athletes that took part in the 2012 London Olympics used steroids. He notes that those steroid users that are not clever are caught by anti-doping agencies. He also notices that a sportsperson who has been caught applying banned medications will fail an IQ test. He concludes that only unwise sportspersons can’t avoid detection.
Thus, when you hear that the WADA has conducted many tests to make sports clean, consider whether these affirmations are true. Can the WADA make competitions fair? Why does the WADA publicize about number of tests?
It seems that the WADA only wants to convince people that the job is done appropriately. The WADA desires to secure future funds. This is the reality.

Who takes anabolic steroids? Why?

It is claimed that the most of steroid users are professional athletes and high school students that are involved in sports. It seems to be true because anabolic steroids are able to promote enhancing muscle mass and strength. These are effects that appreciated by athletes because they try to win competitions. Furthermore, you come across many articles that present steroid scandals which occur in sports: in Major League Baseball, National Football League, Olympics, etc. You become convinced that steroids are such medications which dominate mainly in sports. You also read many pieces of news which notice about administration of performance-enhancing drugs by high school students who look at professional athletes and want to become so celebrated, as they are.
But Lena Butler, a sportswriter, states that the most part of steroid users are not sportspersons. The most of steroid users are bodybuilders who don’t participate in any competitions. So, non-competitive bodybuilders compose 80 % of steroid users. The most of them are young: over the age 25. These are those who work as military professionals, police officers, etc. So, these are persons who have such jobs that require strength. These individuals administer steroids in order to increase their strength and do their jobs properly.
It is also interesting to mention that many persons who have own business apply steroids. They have sufficient money to look attractively. So, they administer steroids for improvement of physique and anti-aging needs.
As for high school students who go info sports, they take steroids because they desire to succeed in sports. These persons desire to win competitions, become famous and earn millions of dollars. Steroid-using celebrated sportspersons have great impact on the decision of high school students to take steroids. Actually, it is dangerous. Health of high school students can be destroyed because of steroids evidentially. Unluckily, this group of steroid users doesn’t want to change their attitudes to steroids. Although they are informed about dangers of steroids for young users, they continue to administer steroids. The number of high school students who apply these drugs rises. If some years ago 1% of high school students used steroids, nowadays the number is doubled.
However there is a tendency to demonize steroids, it is necessary to keep in mind that these medicines are used not only for performance-enhancing effects. They are utilizable for medical needs. Physicians recommend these preparations for individuals that experience various health disorders. These preparations are prescribed for individuals with cancer. HIV/AIDS- patients apply steroids in order to prevent muscle wasting. These drugs efficaciously treat other conditions as well.

Steroids affect numerous systems of body

Nobody can contest positive effects that are produced by usage of steroids. Consumers of these products add energy and increase their muscle mass. As a result, those that compete in sports win medals. But there is  an unpleasant piece of news here. Anabolic steroids, like any other medications, may lead to negative consequences. Functions and even structure of several organs can be destroyed on account of steroid use.

That’s why before using anabolic steroids it is necessary to know about each potential undesirable consequence that may appear on account of these medications. It is a good idea to study information about these products before you make a final decision to use them. You should know that several negative reactions of these drugs may be even permanent. 

It is also important to know instructions linked with steroid use and follow them. Inappropriate usage may lead to fatal unwanted results. 

There are also instructions that note how you can reduce risks linked with some unwanted effects or minimize their severity. Those that have appropriate workouts during steroid use, administer normal doses, have proper nutrition and administer some ancillary preparations for reduction of unwanted results will not suffer from severe health problems.

Dangerous  unwanted reactions ordinarily trouble those who apply enhanced doses and don’t follow other important recommendations. 

However it is noted that soon usage of steroids will become safe, you may observe that this time has not come yet. That’s why you must know about all potential dangers in order to avoid some troubles or at least to lower severity.

The most usual troubles related to intake of steroids are listed below: 

- liver diseases;

- kidney problems;

- skin troubles;

- cardiovascular disorders;

- psychological disorders;

- troubles connected with reproductive system.

Why may be liver functions destroyed by steroids? Let note. Steroids contain toxins. The body tries to escape from them. Liver takes part in this process actively.  Thus, its functions may be disordered because of the toxins contained in steroids. Cysts and tumors may be developed. It is true also about kidneys that also play essential role in excretion of toxins. It is known that toxins can be also excreted through skin. That’s why  typical unwanted results of steroids include acne, oily skin and other related problems.

Steroids may also increase cholesterol levels; so, arteries around the heart are blocked; blood clots are formed. The heart becomes unable to circulate the blood through the body properly. Hypertension may also trouble steroid users. Even heart attacks may be caused by steroid use.

Psychological health may be destructed by steroids too. Those that take these remedies may become aggressive; they may experience abnormal changes in mood and depression. Other mental problems may occur as well.

When it comes to reproductive system, it may be affected as well. Male users of steroids may suffer from shrunken testicles, hypertrophy of prostate, gynecomastia, infertility, etc. Female users of steroids may face such troubles, as enlargement of clitoris, excessive hair growth on body, irregularities in menstrual cycles, etc.

Unluckily, steroids can influence on other systems negatively as well. Just the most usual unwanted reactions are described in the article.

Brain’s disorders and steroid use by teenagers

If you belong to those that read news about steroids, you can claim that almost each article notices about “roid rage” that is claimed to be one of the severest adverse effects of these drugs. Anabolic steroids are demonized for many violations, murders and other crimes. It is claimed that these medications can lead to uncontrolled aggression which is responsible for abnormal behavior. However it is not proven scientifically whether steroids may really lead to “roid rage”, media notes about this negative reaction too frequently. Unluckily, certain other dangerous adverse consequences are rarely mentioned in news.
Teenagers should be especially informed about several specific unwanted results that can affect them, if they administer steroids in their teen years. The specialists Leslie Henderson and Ann Clark of the Giesel School of Medicine in Dartmouth confirm that these medicines can have very negative impact on teenagers’ brains. These scientists have conducted several studies and made conclusions, basing on the results of their researches. These professors claim that steroids can cause in adolescents something graver than uncontrolled aggression.
According to Leslie Henderson and Ann Clark, steroids are too dangerous for adolescents because this group of users may face several specific dangerous unwanted results that don’t trouble adult steroid users. The professors affirm that steroids may affect the brain in teenagers. Thus, the brain’s structure and functions can be destroyed in teenagers because of steroids. Moreover, these negative effects may be permanent. It means that brain’s dysfunctions that are displayed through abnormal behavior may present even when the adolescents grow up. Thus, side psychological effects may be manifested even in their adulthood.
But it is necessary to note that the studies conducted by Leslie Henderson and Ann Clark have enrolled animals. Thus, these affirmations are made on the basis of animals’ reactions to steroid use. One can doubt whether effects of steroids on adolescents’ brains are the same as those on animals. Nevertheless, Leslie Henderson is sure that these statements are true for humans too.
Moreover, it has been defined that unwanted results of steroids on adolescents are more lasting than those that trouble adult steroid users.
Leslie Henderson works together with such scientists, as Marie Onakomaiya, Donna Porter and Joseph Oberlander.
Leslie Henderson claims that it is evident that steroids affect adolescents’ behavior. As we know, behavior is controlled by brain. Since behavior is abnormal, the brain’s structure and functions have certain disorders.
So, it is important to inform adolescents about all probable risks related to application of steroids. If they know about these probable adverse results, they will be able to make a right decision linked with steroids.

New medicines will help to get rid of erectile dysfunctions

Several health problems occur in numerous persons and destroy good life. One of such diseases is erectile dysfunctions. This problem occurs in 50% of men that are over 40 years old. Undoubtedly, this is an unpleasant condition which may affect relations between partners. Men try to get rid of this trouble. There are some medications which are recommended to treat erectile troubles. Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are claimed to be the best remedies for this purpose.
Numerous pharmaceutical companies comprehend that the medications that are administered for treatment of erectile problems are in a high demand. They get 500-600 million dollars for the preparations that effectively work in case of this dysfunction in men. Thus, pharmaceutical companies see that they can receive even greater profits, if they make new effective drugs for this need. Of course, scientists put efforts to do it.
Recently some new drugs to cure erectile problems have been developed. But they should be approved by the FDA before they may be bought and taken legally. These products include Avanafil, Zoraxel, Zydena (Udenafil) and Bremenalotide.
Let present essential information about every of these medicines.
Vivus, a pharmaceutical company, has made the drug Avanafil. Some studies have shown that positive effects of this product are felt just 15 minutes after it has been taken. But the FDA has not yet approved this medicine. So, it is required to wait till its safety will be proven.
The pharmaceutical company Rexahn Pharmaceuticals has created the drug Zoraxel. It influences on the brain, treating erectile troubles. It is said that this product will get the FDA’s approval by 2013.
The product Zydena has been developed by the Korean pharmaceutical company by Dong-A Pharmaceuticals. Several studies have shown that this is an efficacious medication which is able to treat erectile problems. While Malaysians and Russians may use it, Americans don’t have access to this drug because it has not been yet approved by the US FDA. It is stated that Zydena works faster than Viagra.
The product Bremelanotide has been developed by the pharmaceutical company Palatin Technologies. This product has some priorities over others. It is utilizable for both men and women that have sexual disorders. Furthermore, it is capable to increase sexual arousal and desire, influencing on central nervous system.
These are new drugs which will be indicated to treat erectile dysfunctions. We may hope that they will be able to improve quality of males’ health.

Retired baseball players tell reporters their opinions about Baseball Hall of Fame

What do retired players of the Major League Baseball think about application of steroids? This is the question which is frequently asked by reporters and widely discussed by media. Different individuals have various points of view about this issue.
Recently certain retired players of the Major League Baseball were interviewed by several journalists who tried to learn opinions of the retired players about the steroid era in baseball. Should steroid users be in the Hall of Fame?
Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Dave Henderson, Curt Schillling, Mike Piazza, George Brett and Morgan Ensberg don’t desire to see steroid users in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Later a journalist asked Wade Boggs about this issue as well. This athlete played professional baseball for 18 years. He was asked whether steroid users could be allowed to be chosen for the Hall of Fame. The retired baseball player noted that consumers of steroids should not be chosen for the Hall Of Fame. According to his opinion, it is not the best message for American youth. No one should be allowed to be in the Hall of Fame and affirm that he is one of the greatest players because he has used anabolic steroids. It is the bad message for the youth around world.
When Wade Boggs was asked about Roger Clemens, Boggs said nothing negative about him.
Roger Clemens was accused of lying before the Congress about application of steroids and HGH. Obstruction of Congress, perjury and false statements were charges against this person. But recently the jury acquitted him. The decision of the jury dismissed the statement that Clemens had success due to intake of prohibited medications.
While Wade Boggs said nothing negative about Roger Clemens, he pronounced certain harsh words about pitchers that take steroids and take unfair advantages.

Patrick Mendes and Joshua Gilbert were not allowed to compete at 2012 London Olympics

Patrick Mendes and Joshua Gilbert, top Olympic weightlifters, were banned from “Average Broz’s Gymnasium” (Las Vegas, Nevada). They tested positive for prohibited products. Steroids were not the medications taken by these sportsmen. They administered non-steroidal medicines that are also forbidden under Code of the WADA.
Patrick Mendes tested positive for prohibited preparations in February 2012 before the United States Olympic Team Trials for Weightlifting scheduled who would represent the US at the 2012 London Olympics. The athlete tested for HGH; as a result, he was sentenced to a suspension.
Joshua Gilbert tested positive for the diuretic product furosemide at the 2012 National Weightlifting Championships. It was in March 2012.
Furosemide is a medicine that is used by those who take steroids in order to hide usage of steroids. Furthermore, this preparation helps sportspersons to lose weight in order to meet criteria of certain weight categories.  Weightlifting, boxing and wrestling are sports that divide competitors to weight categories.
HGH and furosemide are medications that are prohibited by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The anti-doping system of the IWF meets criteria of the WADA Code.
The weightlifters Mendes and Gilbert were coached by John Broz. Broz lived and trained with the prominent Bulgarian weightlifter Antonio Krastev during his career. Krastev broke a world record snatch of 216 kg in 1987. John Broz studied the Bulgarian system of trainings and brought certain methods to America. He established own training gym in Las Vegas.
Mendes was sentenced to 2-year ban. As for Gilbert, he was sentenced to 3-year suspension.
The suspensions of these athletes are failure for “Average Broz’s Gym”. So, the greatest weightlifters were not allowed to represent their native country at the 2012 London Olympics.

Larry Olubamiwo didn’t test positive for any steroid

The boxer Larry “War Machine” Olubamiwo took several anabolic steroids, HGH, IGF-1 and other doping medications during 6 years. However several tests have been conducted earlier, he was caught only in January 2012. After a fight against Sam Sexton Larry Olubamiwo tested positive for banned medications. Metabolites of steroids were not discovered in his sample. The boxer tested positive for EPO. EPO represents a blood boosting medicine.
Prolonged usage of prohibited drugs by Olubamiwo was a real embarrassment for the United Kingdom Anti-Doping. Andy Parkinson, the CEO of the UKAD, tried to prove that the suspension of Olubamiwo for intake of 13 various forbidden products is a real success of the UKAD in the struggle against doping.  
Andy Parkinson claimed that it was an unusual case. The boxer took steroids and other related medications for long period of time without fear to destroy his health, career and reputation. He was sentenced to 4-year ban.
But the alarming aspect is following: Olumamiwo could avoid detection for prolonged time, despites essential efforts of anti-doping officers to “clean” sports from usage of doping medications.
Olubamiwo was caught just because the UKAD was informed by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that he became the target of an investigation related to illicit sale of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in the US. Then the UKAD conducted a test that resulted in positives for EPO.
Robert Smith, the General Secretary for the British Boxing Board of Control, supported the affirmations of Andy Parkinson about efforts and success of anti-doping agencies. He affirmed that the case displayed that cheating couldn’t be hidden.
What is your opinion about the case? Do positives for EPO and the suspension of Olubamiwo manifest that anti-doping agencies work successfully? Or does the case manifest that anti-doping policy is not appropriate?
Every person may make own conclusion. But it is clear that the boxer could take many prohibited medicines for 6 years without being caught by anti-doping officers.

Linda McMahon’s opponents: Linda ridicules men that humble women and promotes steroid use

Linda McMahon puts great efforts in order to manifest that she is a politician that deserves to be trusted. She tried to get rid of steroid scandals which have spoiled the reputation of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) throughout numerous years. Of course, her opponents ever utilized opportunities to mention about great problems linked with intake of steroids in the WWE.
It is always noticed that Linda McMahon is the former President and CEO of the WWE. The WWE was established by her and her husband Vince McMahon in 1990. Almost 60% of the traded stock of the WWE is owned by them. They got great profits due to the WWE Empire. One billion dollars was got by the McMahons due to the business connected with the WWE. Mrs. McMahon ended her tenure of the WWE in 2009 and began her political career. She joined the Republican Party seeking a Senatorial Seat for the State of Connecticut.  Linda McMahon wasted about 50 million dollars on the campaign. But she didn’t get success. She lost to the Democratic Party. Now Linda McMahan is seeking the Republican nomination to replace Joe Lieberman, another retiring Senator for Connecticut’s State.
Since Linda McMahon got involved in politics, numerous persons started criticizing her for steroid scandals that took place in the WWE.
 A newspaper confirms that Linda McMahon loves to mention that she has created certain jobs but she doesn’t answers questions about the jobs. An article claims that the CEO of the WWE ridicules  men that humiliate women and promotes administration of steroids.
The WWE responded quickly to these affirmations. The Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for WWE Brian Flinn has noted that the WWE worries about health of wrestlers and random drug testing demonstrates that the WWE is against application of steroids. At least 4 random tests are conducted per year for each wrestler. Those that test positive for forbidden products are sentenced to bans. So, the WWE prohibits intake of steroids. Furthermore, Brian Flinn has noticed that the WWE has one of the most skillful wellness systems in sports and entertainment.

Victor Conte about current state of doping in sports

Recently Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, expressed his thoughts about testing program of anti-doping agencies and the current state of doping in sports.
Victor Conte has noted that it is unlikely that the 2012 Summer Olympics would be free from application of steroids and other prohibited preparations. Conte affirmed in an interview that Olympic anti-doping testing policy had various lacks. So, steroid users were also chosen to participate in the Olympic Games.
The founder of BALCO doesn’t believe that usage of prohibited drugs has diminished. He doesn’t agree with persons that claim that low performance in various sports proves that steroids and other banned medications are almost excluded from sports.
The founder of BALCO confirms that steroids are widely taken now too. Efforts of anti-doping agencies led to adoption of athletes. Thus, athletes don’t use as high doses as have been utilized before.  Nevertheless, application of steroids and other banned drugs continues to be a concern.
Victor Conte is sure that athletes don’t use such designer steroids, as THG. Instead of administering such medications, sportspersons administer the steroid testosterone that is believed to be the grandfather of all steroids.  Victor Conte adds that since testosterone is fast-acting and it comes in form of creams, gels, patches and injections, it is widely used by athletes. Furthermore, not very increased measures of testosterone are required in order to produce great results. This steroid is popular among Major League Baseball players.
Conte criticizes anti-doping system. He confirms that anti-doping agencies have significant ambiguities. Even a truck may go through loopholes that are in doping rules, according to the founder of BALCO.

US and Polish police officers arrested persons that sold steroids to customers in other countries

Everybody must have observed that the US put efforts to bust multinational companies that advertise steroids on internet and ship them to clients around the world.
Recently the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has co-worked with Poland’s police officers in order to catch individuals that have been suspected in shipment of steroids and other related products to different countries of the world.
This investigation began approximately one year ago. The polish Border Guard Straz Graniczna intercepted huge doses of steroids that were sent to clients in the US and Canada. Injectable and oral steroids were confiscated at the Warsaw mail terminal.
Straz Graniczna worked together with US DEA. Ultimately 2 young individuals from Poland were detained. One of them was detained, after he left the post office. More than 7, 000 steroid tablets and 19, 000 steroid vials and 47, 000 Polish zloty or over 14, 000 US dollars were discovered in this person’s car. But it was just the beginning of seizures.
It was determined that an apartment located in Warsaw served as a base of the underground lab that produced steroids that are commonly taken by American bodybuilders. When police officials searched the apartment, they discovered drug paraphernalia there. The apartment was used not just for manufacture of steroids but also for keeping of prepared steroids. About 666, 000 steroid pills, 19, 000 vials of steroids and more than 5, 000 steroid ampoules were confiscated during the search. The preparations were estimated. The price was claimed to be 6 million Polish zloty that are equal to 1, 8 million US dollars.
It is suggested that the US will ask Polish authorities to extradite these two individuals.
The USA becomes aggressive, when it comes to struggle against steroids. International steroid rings are busted.
But the US doesn’t have significant success collaborating with Europe and Asia. The US presses other countries to detain and extradite distributors of steroids.
Steroid dealers that were related to British Dragon and Musclebear were arrested and extradited to the US from Thailand and Cyprus.
The US pressed Austria to arrest the steroid dealer Mihael Karner. So, he was arrested. Then the USA pressed Austrian authorities to extradite this person to the US. But federal prosecutors didn’t succeed that time. Karner paid one million Euros to Austrian authorities to avoid the extradition and reach his native country Slovenia.

Government couldn’t make jurors to believe that Roger Clemens was guilty

Names of 12 individuals (four men and eight women) who served as jury at the case against Roger Clemens were released by the judge Reggie Walton.
The government desired the jury to be convinced that Roger Clemens had lied before the Congress about application of steroids and HGH. But since the jury didn’t believe it, the government criticized the individuals who acted as the jury. Some individuals that served as the jury were interviewed.
A political activist, an art historian, a teacher of deaf kids, an official of Treasury Department and an employee of the Canadian Embassy were included in the jury.
The political activist Joyce Robinson-Paul was interviewed by the New York Daily News some days after Roger Clemens was acquitted. She confirmed that the jury understood that they had to be fair to both the federal prosecutors and Roger Clemens. But they didn’t find anything that had to be prosecuted.  Later she also affirmed that the federal prosecutors were not capable to prove their accusations.
Bradford Weaver, an employee of the Canadian Embassy confirmed that the government acted wrongly. He noticed that such cases should not happen again. He also claimed that there was nothing to be pursued. He was interviewed by the Associated Press. He also confirmed that each juror understood from the very beginning that Clemens was not proven guilty of any charge. Weaver pointed that every juror was unanimous.
The employee of the Canadian Embassy was also asked whether he considered that Roger Clemens really administered steroids. Journalists of the Associated Press also asked him whether he believed that the governmental case against Roger Clemens represented just the waste of taxpayers’ funds. But Bradford Weaver refused to answer the questions.
Another juror who chose not to be named noted that the jurors didn’t understand how the government could spend large sums of money during five years in order to prosecute the baseball player. This person confirmed that it was impossible to understand why the prosecution lasted for five years.
Other jurors didn’t provide any information.
As for feds, they seemed to be wholly disappointed. They declined to respond to the affirmations pronounced by the jurors.