Test that solves doubts about Nandrolone doping

2002/04/26 Mendiburu, Joana - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Farmakologia

High-level athletes acquire hormones in order to improve their level of performance. There are several hormones on the market, but the most commonly used are anabolic steroids to strengthen, increase and increase muscle strength. These hormones are similar to testosterone produced in the male testicles and, to a lesser extent, in the female eggs.

But these hormones also have undesirable consequences, such as voice thickening, hair proliferation, etc. These consequences focus on women. Therefore, in recent years other substances such as nandrolone have been used.

What is nandrolone?

Nandrolone is an artificial substance derived from testosterone. Influencing calcium metabolism is given to patients with osteoporosis and in some cases to those who continue treatment to fight breast cancer.

Athletes take to increase and strengthen muscle size, relieve joint pain and help heal microtrauma workouts.

Nandrolone produces 19-norandrosterone (19-NA) in the body, a substance measured in urine tests to high-level athletes. However, this substance is also a side product of the hormone, so the body also produces it naturally. Because women produce more estrogens than men, they usually have between 19 and 19 NA more.

Until now it was not possible to define the origin of 19-NA. Thus, above certain levels defined by the International Olympic Committee (IMT), the athlete is positive and cannot prove otherwise.

A maximum of 2 nanograms/ml is allowed in men and 5 ng/ml in women. According to experts, these measures are very close to the amount produced by the body, so most athletes who give positive are shown against the results.

19-Test that defines the origin of the NA

From now on, athletes who have tested positive in the nandrolone test will be able to demonstrate that they have not been doped thanks to the new test developed at the National Veterinary School of Nantes. Researchers have found that 19 NA is associated with different molecules of artificial and natural origin, and that the new test takes advantage to define the origin.

According to Bruno Le Bizec, current tests are not always accurate enough and undoped athletes can also give positive. To express this, Le Bizec is based on the result of a study conducted between 1998 and 2000. During these two years, 385 urine samples from 40 French footballers were analyzed. Result: The natural 19-NA level was higher than 1.8.

To differentiate between the 19-NA generated naturally and the doping derivative, urine samples of nandrolonated and non-nandrolonated athletes were analyzed and compared, obtaining conclusions of interest.

It has been observed that 30% of DNI 19-NA is associated with sulfate in athletes who took nandrolone. On the contrary, all natural 19-NA is associated with a glucose derivative. To know its origin, just observe which molecule is associated with 19-NA.

According to Le Bizec, this test will be really useful when the acceptable level of nandrolone is barely exceeded. However, a debate has been opened among the members of the International Olympic Committee as the price of the tests is higher.