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Tuesday 10, Aug 2010

  Olympic success can be engineered

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Olympic success can be engineeredThe science behind performances of Olympic athletes was revealed at a public discussion on 29 April at the University of Birmingham that was hosted by the Engineering & Technology Board (etb) in partnership with the Royal Institution (Ri).

The public discussions emphasized upon explanation to the science at work behind the Olympics, as per Dr Greg Whyte, Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport.

From News-Medical.Net:

Dr Greg Whyte, Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport, who will lead each event said: “Every four years Olympic records previously thought to be unbeatable are broken and new milestones are reached.”

“These three public discussions will not only explain the science at work behind the Olympics, but also highlight the increasingly critical role science, engineering and technology plays in assisting athlete’s participation, and success, in the world’s greatest sports event.”

Dr Whyte will open the discussion by providing an overview of human performance throughout history in our bid to become swifter, higher and stronger.  He will be followed by leading industry experts, who will talk on:

i) the physiological limits of human achievement by looking at the differences between humans and animals in terms of speed and endurance;

ii) the advances in sports equipment technology and examine its impact on human performance; and finally

iii) the effect of advancements in drug testing technology on athletes’ pursuit of excellence.

The list of speakers at the University of Birmingham included Craig Sharp (Professor of Sports Science at Brunel University), James Lamont (Innovation Team Leader, adidas), Dr Greg Whyte (Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport), and Claire Davis (School of Engineering, Birmingham University).

It seems that the aim of these discussions was on educating sportsmen about the pros and cons of steroids in sports.

Wednesday 30, Jun 2010

  Random testing beyond sanctions for high schoolers

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Random testing beyond sanctions for high schoolersRandom drug testing has been instituted beyond sanctions by a high proportion of public school districts as set by the U.S. Supreme Court on their high school students, as per a study led by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).

Dr. Chris Ringwalt, Senior Research Scientist at PIRE said that he believed that the study will have implications to monitor the happening of random drug testing for preventing the use of steroids in sports and schools in the coming times.

From News-Medical.Net:

Nearly all school districts that implemented random drug testing procedures subjected their athletes to the possibility of being tested, and two-thirds randomly tested high school students who participated in other extracurricular activities. More than a quarter of the districts that implemented random drug testing subjected all their high school students to the possibility of being tested.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that testing student athletes for drugs is constitutional, even in the absence of any suspicion of substance use. In a subsequent case, the Court extended its ruling to include students participating in extracurricular activities.

“Random student drug testing will likely continue to be controversial and the practice is likely to be contested, just as we saw with the recent ruling by the Washington State Supreme Court,” said Dr. Chris Ringwalt, Senior Research Scientist at PIRE. The Washington State Supreme Court ruled on March 13, 2008, based on a lawsuit that student athletes brought against a local school district, that random drug testing of student athletes is not allowed under the state’s constitution, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1995 ruling (Supreme Court of the State of Washington. York v. Wahkiakum School District No. 200. Docket No: 99-2-00075-6, March 13, 2008).

It is worth nothing here that more and more young people are using anabolic steroids to buildup solid muscles and enhance performance levels.

Tuesday 22, Jun 2010

  Red Fox Staffers linked with steroids fired

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Red Fox Staffers linked with steroids firedTwo security staff members of the Boston Red Sox were fired last year after they were caught involved in steroid use during an investigation by Major Baseball League.

This incident was reported by The Boston Globe. There was no evidence that the staff members had sold performance enhancing drugs to players or were aware of any direct knowledge about players using such drugs.

From Nytimes.com:

The disclosure about the firings came two days after The New York Times reported that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, who helped propel the Red Sox to win the World Series in 2004 and 2007, were among the roughly 100 players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003.

According to The Globe, Jared Remy said that a former aide to Ortiz discussed his own steroid use. A lawyer for the aide disputed that account and said that the aide had no involvement with steroids.

Cyr’s mother, Lindsey Cyr, attended the meeting with the baseball investigator, The Globe said. She told The Globe that the investigator was very interested in whether prominent members of the Red Sox had used steroids.

“That’s all he wanted to know,” said Lindsey Cyr, according to The Globe. “He asked Alex if Alex had ever given any to Manny Ramirez, and he said absolutely not.”

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, said in an interview with CNN that he was “sick” about the use of steroids in sports.

Wednesday 25, Nov 2009

  Growing relationship between anabolic steroids and sports

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Growing relationship between anabolic steroids and sportsIn the world of professional sports, especially in bodybuilding and athletics, the use of steroids is a big matter of discussions and something that is criticized by some individuals. But the truth is that anabolic steroids are very effective and only one side of the side is told to the world but the entire story is left hidden.

In this context, it is important to note that more and more individuals are using steroids these days despite tall claims from the government authorities and WADA. The only reason behind success and popularity of steroids despite all odds is nothing but endless benefits.

Let us find out whether steroids and sports are perceived in the right spirit or not.

From Whitehousedrugpolicy.gov:

Doping is the use of a substance that artificially enhances athletic performance. These substances often pose a significant risk to the health and well-being of athletes. The use of performance-enhancing drugs undermines the ideals of sports and devalues and debases the rewards of competition. Despite the range of health risks and ethical implications, many athletes at both the professional and amateur levels use these dangerous substances.

One of the most effective ways to combat doping is by supporting and working collaboratively with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA was established to harmonize and coordinate an effective international program to detect, deter, and prevent doping. The United States plays a leadership role in WADA, serving on WADA’s governing board and on many working committees. The United States is the largest funder of the organization and was also recently elected to represent the entire 41-nation region of the Americas on WADA’s Executive Committee.

It can be easily concluded that sportsmen on steroids are well aware of the fact that steroids cannot result in any side effect if they are used sensibly and as per medical recommendations. The fact that steroids result in side effects only when abused is also known to them and this is the reason why they are not hesitant to use steroids after evaluating their pros and cons.

Friday 30, Oct 2009

  Are Steroids as harmful as they are been seen or highlighted?

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Are Steroids as harmful as they are been seen or highlighted?In the world of sports, a long debate is always there when the topic of discussion was steroids. While some advocate the usage of steroids to deliver consistently high performances on the field, some think that steroids are harmful. While the former group is right, the latter group is not completely right; this is because steroids are harmful but only when they are abused.

Let us read excerpts from a conversation between Rick Collins, J.D. –RC – and Norman Fost, M.D. – NF – to find if steroids are really harmful for its users and society.

From Steroidlaw.com:

RC: Anabolic steroids were placed under the Controlled Substances Act in 1990, limiting the scope of physician prescribing with the threat of criminal penalties. Do steroids belong there?

NF: Whatever the arguments about our regulatory system for narcotics and marijuana and so on, they simply don’t apply to steroids. This is not a source of violent criminal activity, school dropouts and all the social problems of illicit drugs. So putting this in that category strikes me as bizarre. If the government is really concerned about safety, if that is really the issue, the steroid situation screams for regulating the drugs through the FDA, and facilitating supervision by doctors. By driving this behavior underground, we have increased whatever risks exist by ensuring that safety studies are not performed, either short or long term. We have also lost control of manufacturing processes, so the user has no way of knowing what, in fact, he is using. The policy of a ban, coupled with criminal penalties, is even more incoherent if safety is the argument.

RC: You’ve hit on a key theme explored in Legal Muscle. But do you think that steroid administration for the purpose of building muscle in healthy adults could be safely accomplished under the supervision of physicians?

NF: There’s no drug in the world that has zero risks. The issues are whether the risks are manageable, whether they are in the same ballpark as other drugs that are widely prescribed and I think they are and whether the risks can be reduced to an acceptable level. I think the risks are most reduced under a knowledgeable doctor’s supervision. No question, there will always be adverse effects, but the life-threatening or irreversible and disabling adverse effects are likely to be low, and risks a competent adult may choose to take on even if properly informed. If the risks are greater than present evidence shows, the most efficient way to learn about that is through well-designed studies, as we do for other regulated drugs.

It can be easily concluded from the above studies that steroids, as such, do not bring any side effects to their users but a high sense of carefulness and diligence are very much required while using steroids. One can stay away from dangers of steroids just like one can stay away from road accidents by walking or driving carefully on the road. The point is very clear – there is nothing safe in this world, but you can ensure it remains safe by following the established rules.

Tuesday 18, Aug 2009

  New Technique can prove effective for spotting use of banned substances

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New Technique can prove effective for spotting use of banned substancesAccording to a research published today in the Journal Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, a new technique can offer a new dimensional approach in spotting use of banned substances by athletes.

This technique is expected to help doping staff and drug officials to distinguish between the presence of synthetically manufactured and naturally occurring human steroids in the body. It is interesting to note here that though naturally occurring and synthetic steroids are somehow similar in nature, there seems to be a difference in the ratio of ‘heavy’ carbon to ‘light’ carbon they contain.

From News-Medical.Net:

The new approach, developed by scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Nottingham, allows easy analysis of the carbon ratio. It uses a catalytic reaction to strip steroids of their more aggressive parts whilst leaving the carbon ‘skeleton’ intact. This technique, called hydropyrolysis, is commonly used to aid oil exploration by freeing small fragments of organic matter from petroleum rock sources.

Dr Mark Sephton, from Imperial’s Department of Earth Science and Engineering and lead author of the research, explained: “The type of carbon in the body’s molecules reflects the carbon ingested as part of an athlete’s diet, and if you can work out the carbon ratio in the molecules you can determine the source of the carbon.

“Drug cheats should beware. The carbon-based secrets of steroids are now apparent to the analyst. Thanks to our technique, in the future it will be much more difficult to escape detection when using performance-enhancing steroids“, he added.

The next step of researchers is to extend the present findings onto pure samples of steroid molecules. It is believed that the new technique will help in curbing use of steroids in sports to enhance the image of sports, which has been tarnished by steroid-taking athletes and other sportsmen in the last few years.

Tuesday 11, Aug 2009

  Scientists to make revelations on how Olympic Success can be engineered

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Scientists to make revelations on how Olympic Success can be engineered  During a public discussion on 29 April at the University of Birmingham that was hosted by the Engineering & Technology Board (etb) in partnership with the Royal Institution (Ri), the science behind the performances of Olympic athletes was revealed.

Speakers at the University of Birmingham included Craig Sharp (Professor of Sports Science at Brunel University), James Lamont (Innovation Team Leader, adidas), Dr Greg Whyte (Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport), and Claire Davis (School of Engineering, Birmingham University).

According to Dr Greg Whyte, Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport, the public discussions were aimed at explaining the science at work behind the Olympics.

From News-Medical.Net:

Dr Greg Whyte, Director of Science and Research at the English Institute of Sport, who will lead each event said: “Every four years Olympic records previously thought to be unbeatable are broken and new milestones are reached.”

“These three public discussions will not only explain the science at work behind the Olympics, but also highlight the increasingly critical role science, engineering and technology plays in assisting athlete’s participation, and success, in the world’s greatest sports event.”

Dr Whyte will open the discussion by providing an overview of human performance throughout history in our bid to become swifter, higher and stronger. He will be followed by leading industry experts, who will talk on:

i) The physiological limits of human achievement by looking at the differences between humans and animals in terms of speed and endurance;

ii) The advances in sports equipment technology and examine its impact on human performance; and finally;

iii) The effect of advancements in drug testing technology on athletes’ pursuit of excellence.

Modern day Olympics have always been played under the clouds of steroids. With steroids gaining more popularity than ever, it is high time that sportsmen can be educated about the pros and cons of steroids in sports so that no awkward incident occurs at any of the future Olympics.

Monday 10, Aug 2009

  Pills to enhance exercise in the pipeline

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Pills to enhance exercise in the pipelineScientists in the United States have claimed to find two possible drugs, AICAR and GW1516, which can help people, especially sportsmen, to exercise for longer. The discovery of these two drugs is controversial in a sense that it may give an ‘unfair’ advantage to sportsmen like steroids and even to those who do not move a muscle.

These two drugs have been understood to build muscle mass, burn fat, and increase level of stamina.

From News-Medical.Net:

Lead researcher Professor Ronald Evans, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Salk Institute in California, has produced a test which will allow the drugs to be detected in the urine and blood of competitors.

Professor Evans says the drugs could eventually help tackle muscle wasting diseases, or help improve the health benefits of exercise in people at risk of conditions such as diabetes.

The two drugs AICAR and GW1516, appear to have an effect on the master gene PPAR-delta which is involved in the building and regulation of muscle and also has the ability to control the activity of many other genes.

This ability in theory could have a wider effect on the way the body works.

By genetically altering mice to enhance the activity of the gene, led to the development of muscle which was much more likely to burn fat than burn sugar and it also made “marathon mice” who were able to run much further on a treadmill.

The researchers say a drug now needs to be produced which will create similar effects rather than conducting a genetic alteration.

It is believed that the two drugs will help sportsmen improve training methodologies besides gaining optimum benefits to deliver dramatic on-field performance. It will be worthwhile however to note the reaction of doping and sporting bodies on these drugs as they have been raising concerns about the use of steroids in sports till now.

Friday 07, Aug 2009

  Are Steroids good for Sports?

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Are Steroids good for Sports?In today’s sporting world, sportsmen and audience do not talk about the use of steroids in sports. This is because they know that steroids have become an integral part of their lives and there is no point in blaming steroids as they help in fulfilling those previously unattained, unexplored, and unfeasible acts.

A small majority of individuals who blamed modern-day sportsmen are those who themselves used steroids at times. The only difference is that they were not caught as past-day technologies were not capable of confirming a steroid use. But, today things can be tracked to some extent. It is high time they grow up and accept the game as it is.

From Huffingpost.com:

Does anyone really care if someone damaged his or her health by working too many hours? It happens every day. So why are we worried about what millionaire athletes do?

Steroids can be used responsibly if prescribed by a doctor. Maybe that’s why the AMA was AGAINST making them a controlled substance. And here’s something to think about: If there were a drug with marginal side effects that would make you smarter, would you take it? And what if it enabled you to excel to the point where you could double your earnings? What if not using them meant failure?

The cat is out of the bag and he isn’t going back in. These drugs do amazing things and they will continue to be used. They come with a risk however. I’d rather see that risk controlled than have the users sneak around and support a black market in order to engage in what should be their inalienable right of free choice as long as the consequences don’t endanger anyone else. As far as I’m concerned, if I want to juggle a couple of flaming chainsaws in the privacy of my own home, that’s my option. It’s funny to see the people who scream the loudest about civil liberties leading the march against others should and shouldn’t do.

I’m not advocating or endorsing steroid use, but it’s here to stay. And the biggest irony of it all is that most fans don’t care. They’d rather see their favorite players playing, instead of penalized. What is the more egregious crime is the price of the tickets. And for that kind of money, I want to see a great performance, however it’s achieved. And although I’m not a fan of the Hall of Fame in that it’s not a museum as much as an elite club determined by committee, there should be an asterisk next to McQuire, Bonds, et al stating: “Post enhancement era.” Would that be so hard?

Just as these drugs will add a few years to the career of a great pitcher by replacing that lost mile or two an hour on his fastball, they can extend youth and vitality for aging baby boomers. If used properly.

The point is – steroids do not offer something bad to its users. They do not even harm unless they are abused. So, what’s the point in blaming them? The earlier people realize this fact, the better. One thing that just cannot be denied is the fact steroids and sports are almost inseparable.

Thursday 06, Aug 2009

  Are Steroids dangerous as some people call them?

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Are Steroids dangerous as some people call them?There have been many people who went on record to say that steroids are dangerous for their users, but are they really dangerous?

Let us read excerpts from a conversation between Rick Collins, J.D. –RC – and Norman Fost, M.D. – NF – to find if steroids are really harmful for its users and society.

From Steroidlaw.com:

RC: Anabolic steroids were placed under the Controlled Substances Act in 1990, limiting the scope of physician prescribing with the threat of criminal penalties. Do steroids belong there?

NF: Whatever the arguments about our regulatory system for narcotics and marijuana and so on, they simply don’t apply to steroids. This is not a source of violent criminal activity, school dropouts and all the social problems of illicit drugs. So putting this in that category strikes me as bizarre. If the government is really concerned about safety, if that is really the issue, the steroid situation screams for regulating the drugs through the FDA, and facilitating supervision by doctors. By driving this behavior underground, we have increased whatever risks exist by ensuring that safety studies are not performed, either short or long term. We have also lost control of manufacturing processes, so the user has no way of knowing what, in fact, he is using. The policy of a ban, coupled with criminal penalties, is even more incoherent if safety is the argument.

RC: You’ve hit on a key theme explored in Legal Muscle. But do you think that steroid administration for the purpose of building muscle in healthy adults could be safely accomplished under the supervision of physicians?

NF: There’s no drug in the world that has zero risks. The issues are whether the risks are manageable, whether they are in the same ballpark as other drugs that are widely prescribed and I think they are and whether the risks can be reduced to an acceptable level. I think the risks are most reduced under a knowledgeable doctor’s supervision. No question, there will always be adverse effects, but the life-threatening or irreversible and disabling adverse effects are likely to be low, and risks a competent adult may choose to take on even if properly informed. If the risks are greater than present evidence shows, the most efficient way to learn about that is through well-designed studies, as we do for other regulated drugs.

From the above discussions, it can be easily concluded that steroids do not pose a serious threat to its users unless they are abused or used without a qualified medical advice. One can stay away from dangers of steroids just like one can stay away from road accidents by walking or driving carefully on the road. The point is very clear – there is nothing safe in this world, but you can ensure it remains safe by following the established rules.

This also means that myths surrounding use of steroids in sports do not make any sense and are just created for the sake of it.

In short, steroids are not dangerous for you unless you start making them dangerous.

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