Doping Journal Noteworthy Articles

Рик Вейс: Золото Майкла Фелпса на Олимпиаде в Пекине - результат допинга музыкой перед заплывами-финалами в Пекинском Водном кубе

2008-08-23T15:13:00.002+03:00

Слушать mp3 плейер перед Олимпийским заплывом - это все равно что принимать допинг препараты

Рик Вейс (Rick Weiss)
Старший сотрудник, Центр Прогресса Америки
научный корреспондент газеты Вашингтон Пост

Представьте, что Вам выпала честь выступить на Летней Олимпиаде в Пекине. Вы идете по Пекинской улице за день до соревнования, и уличный торговец подаёт вам скрытый от посторонних глаз намек подойти по-ближе. В нерешительности, Вы все же приближаетесь. В тот самый момент, когда незнакомец открывает полы своего пиджака – вы видите странный приборчик, наполовину погруженный в его внутренний карман.

«Тссс,» - говорит он, - «Хотите выйграть Золото? Гарантирую помощь! Причем помощь эта – легальная!»

«Что это,» - спрашиваете Вы, когда он подносит поближе волшебный приборчик, размером даже меньше, чем кредитная картаа, и торчашими из него проводами.

«Внутричерепной трансдуктор,» - говорит торговец на ломанном английском. – «Прикрепляешь к своим ушам и... фокусируешь свой мозг, увеличиваешь кислородную емкость крови, подготавливаешь мышцы для соревнования. Сделано в Китае,» с гордостью заверяет «горе-бизнесмен».

«Так это же устройство для Допинга,» - восклицаете Вы с негодованием.

«Нет, нет!» машет руками незнакомец, в ужасе озираясь по сторонам, чтобы убедится, что никто не услышал инкриминируемого ему заявления. – «Я же сказал, всё 100% легально.»

«Как же он называется?» - спрашиваете Вы.

Китаец оглядывается по сторонам, и говорит шопотом, так, чтобы никто не услышал «iPod,» - мы называем это Ай Под. Он помог Фелпсу. Он может помочь и Вам”

***

Сегодня практичеси каждый знает, что Майкл Фелпс, восьмикратный Олимпийский чемпион, побивший мировые и олимпийские рекорды в плавании на летней Пекинской Олимпиаде 2008 года, фанат mp3 плейера с торговой маркой Ай Пода (iPod). За считанные минуты перед каждым олимпийским стартом, в ушах Фелпса обязательный атрибут его имиджа – эти самые провода зашишенной торговой марки. Сам Фелпс неоднократно говорил, что он слушает музыку Эминем, Янг Джизи, Лил Вайне и Джей-Z (Eminem, Young Jeezy, Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z) для усиления воли к победе и концентрации.

Если разложить на его технические составляющие, iPod – это не что иное, как прибор, который передает электрическую энергию в энергию акустическую, в данном случае музыку

Улавливаете, куда я клоню? Прежде чем я продолжу, отвлекитесь от своей системы координат, обывательской точки зрения. Прислушайтесь и подумайте о следующем. Сейчас поясню. Упомяну Российского доктора и ученого доктора биологических наук Алексея Кудинова, ведущего научного сотрудника академической группы академика ТТ Березова, НИИ Биомедицинской Химии имени Ореховича РАМН, с которым мне довелось неоднократно общаться на разные биомедицинские темы. Среди прочего Алексей Кудинов редактирует организованный им во время Афинской Олимпиады 2004 года, издаваемый и возглавляемый им научный Допинг журнал. Так вот неделю назад, вскоре после того, как я задумался и сам провел параллель между Ай Подингом и допингом, доктор Кудинов прислал мне ссылку на его публикацию в Олимпийском авторском блоге спортивных комментаторов американской газеты Балтимор Сан, издаваемой в родном городе Фелпса. В этой публикации Алексей поднимает те же вопросы о допинге, котрые я сам хотел обсудить со своими читателями. Грустно, что этот блог вызвал немедленное экспансивное высмеивание сетевыми читателями.

“Кто оплачивает эти идеи?” написал один из респондентов, как-будто в ответ на радикальный призыв Кудинова к Фелпсу вернуть свои медали. Другие называли саму идею о том, что музыка усиливает силу атлета перед соревнованием не иначе как «глупостью», «идиотизмом», “навеянной деньгами”

Один умный комментатор утверждал, что “автор статьи может написать в статье в Допинг Журнале, что он сам использует допинг». Другой не столь «здравомыслящий» назвал очерк Кудинова «бесполезной тратой чернил». В действительности, впрочем как и со всеми онлайн публикациями, чернила тут не причем, мы уже давно про них забыли.

Но давайте разберемся в проблеме. Если разложить на его технические составляющие, iPod, предлагаемый гипотетическому олимпионику торговцем-китайцем – это не что иное, как прибор, который передает электрическую энергию в энергию акустическую, в данном случае музыку. Но как всякий знает, музыка может оказывать существенное психологическое и физиологическое влияние на организм человека. Музыка может помочь слушателю расслабится. Музыка может вызвать агрессию или восторг. Может породить прилив эмоций и внутренней энергии.

Если Вы считате, что это общие слова, то как насчет научной работы, опубликованной в Журнале Исследований Медицинских Сестер (Journal of Nursing Research) в 2003 году. Это исследование показало, что у тех госпитализированных младенцев, которым включали музыку, происходило существенное увеличение кислорода крови, по сравнению с детишками, не получающими такой «музыкальной терапии». Теперь вспомните, что Анти-Допинговый Код Всемирного Анти-Допингового Агенства, его последняя редакция 2008 года, действительная на Олимпийских играх 2008 года в Пекине, в своей статье M1, подкатегории “Запрещенных методов,” запрещает использование “искусственного усиления поступления в организм, транспорта и доставки кислорода...”

Я полагаю, что изложенное выше поднимает интересный правовой и философский вопрос о том, что же попадает под понятие “исскуственный”. Говоря словами одного из наиболее циничных блоггеров-комментаторов: «каждый знает, что дыхание увеличивает кислород крови. Должно ли это также считатся запрещенным?» Так далеко в рассуждениях я не пойду. Нормальное дыхание конечно никто отменять не собирается, но как быть с гораздо менее естественными способами, такими, например, как глубокое дыхание, разгибание (растяжка) или разминка?

Дальше – больше! Музыка может влиять не только на уровень кислорода. Кудинов цитирует научную работу Стефана Кёльша из НИИ Мозга имени Макса Планка в Лейпциге, Германия, который опубликовал не один десяток научных статей о влиянии музыки на организм человека. Согласно Келша, музыка вызывает так называемый эффект релаксации. Это означает, что для выполнения одного и того же объема работы, после прослушивания музыки будет затрачено меньше мышечной массы атлета, а это опосредованно также увеличит кислород во всем организме, поскольку «не работающие мышцы» его потреблять не будут.

С учетом многочисленных разговоров на нынешней Пекинской олимпиаде о рисках и подводных камнях “шумовых эффектов и колебаниях,” которые могут привести даже у самых лучших гимнастов к потере равновесия, можно сказать определенно: релаксация имеет большой потенциальный эффект на соревновательный потенциал спортсмена и его способность бороться за медали.

Кстати сказать, успокоительные лекарства, такие как бета-блокаторы, запрещены во многих Олимпийских спортивных дисциплинах. Пример тому – вторая неделя Олимпиады, когда у Северо-Корейского Олимпионика стрелка Ким Джонг Су отобрали серебрянную и бронзовую медали после того, как его анализ крови дал положительный результат на пропранолол, который замедляет серцебиение на фоне нервозности, и считается допингом потому, что снижает беспокойство и усиливает концентрацию.

Музыка перед стартом может дать Фелпсу и дополнительные преймущества. Именно в момент отмены музыки всего за минуту или две перед стартом. Еще одна научна работа Итальянских ученых, опубликованная в 2005 году установила: внезапная музыкальная пауза после интенсивной музыки перед началом соревнования даёт «меломану» счастливый билетик на олимпийский подиум. Потому что музыка вызывает возбуждение, а последующая музыкальная пауза – волну релаксации-расслабления. Как раз то, о чем и говорил немецкий исследователь Стефен Кельш.

“Музыка, особенно у тренированных людей, сперва концентрирует внимание во-время быстрых [музыкальных] ритмов, а затем вызывает релаксацию во время музыкальной паузы,” заключает исследование итальянских ученых.

...Весь текст статьи Рика Вейса включает еще несколько параграфов на философские вопросы, что же такое допинг. Оригинальный английский текст находится по приведенному веб адресу на сайте ScienceProgress.org

Оригинальный текст: Оригинальный текст: Рик Вейс. Майкл Фелпс использует акустический допинг? (Слушать iPod – все равно что использовать допинг препараты) Биоэтика: Прогресс Науки. Веб сайт AmericanProgress.org Опубликовано онлайн 22 Августа 2008 [Весь Тескт]
Rick Weiss. Is Michael Phelps A Sonic Doper? (Listening to an iPod Is Like Taking Drugs) Bioethics: Science Progress by AmericanProgress.org Published online 22 August 2008 [FullText]

Литературный перевод на Русский язык – Алексей Кудинов, Doping Journal, http://www.dopingjournal.org

Об авторе: Рик Вейс (Rick Weiss) – до июня 2008 года - репортер газеты Вашингтон Пост, освещающий вопросы науки и медицины. Он пришел в эту столичную американскую газету в 1993 году, а в 1996 году возглавил команду, занимающуюся вопросами генетики, молекулярной биологии и другими аспектами биологии и медицины.

До того, как прийти в столичную Вашингтон Пост, Вейс работал пишущим журналистом в Журнале здоровья Сан Франциско и ряде других медицинских изданий. У Вейса – степень Бакалавра по биологии Корнельского Университета, Нью-Йорк (1974), а также степень Магистра Журналистики, полученной в аспирантуре Университета Калифорнии в Беркли (1983-1985). Статьи Вейса являют собой пример лучшей отвественной научной журналистики, и украшают такие издания как Вашингтон Пост, Нью-Йорк Таймс, Лос Анжелес Таймс, журнал Сайнс, Дисковер (Открытие), Хроника Сан Франциско и другие.

С июня 2008 года Вейс – старший специалист Центра Прогресса Америки

Michael Phelps: Listening to an iPod Is Like Taking Doping Drugs

2008-08-22T18:50:00.001+03:00

by Rick Weiss
Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
Former Washington Post Science Reporter

Original Publication:

Is Michael Phelps A Sonic Doper?
(Listening to an iPod Is Like Taking Drugs)
Bioethics: Science Progress by AmericanProgress.org
Published online 22 August 2008
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/08/doping/

Imagine you have qualified for the Olympics and are walking down a Beijing street the day before your event, when a vendor gives you a covert signal to come closer. You approach warily as he opens a flap of his trench coat, revealing something half tucked into an inside pocket.

“Pssst,” he says. “You want to win gold? Guaranteed to help. And perfectly legal.”

“What is it?” you ask, as he shows you a mysterious device, smaller than a credit card and with wires dangling from it.

“Intracranial transducers,’” he says in practiced English, pointing to the ends of the wires. “Stick them in your ears and they focus the brain, increase blood oxygen, prepare muscles for action. Made here in China.”

“So it’s a doping device!” you say with disgust.

“No, no,” the man exclaims in a hoarse whisper, looking around to make sure no one else has heard your incriminating comment. “Like I said, totally legal.”

“So what is it called?” you ask.

He looks askance again, then leans over and whispers in your ear: “‘iPod,’” he says. “We call it ‘iPod.’ It worked for Phelps. It can work for you.”

***

It is now a widely known fact that Michael Phelps, winner of a record-breaking eight gold medals in this year’s Olympics, is an iPod fanatic. In the minutes before diving into the pool, those trademark white wires were almost invariably hanging from his ears. He has confessed at various times to using tunes by Eminem, Young Jeezy, Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z to motivate him and enhance his concentration.

When broken down to its mechanical elements, an iPod is nothing more, and nothing less, than what my hypothetical Chinese huckster was pitching—a device that transduces electrical energy into acoustical energy, namely music.

You see where I am going with this. And before I go any further, why don’t you get it out of your system? Let me have it. I know what’s coming because soon after I began to wonder about the parallels between iPoding and doping, an Israel-based medical doctor and scientist with whom I have communicated occasionally in the past—Alexei Koudinov, who among other things edits an online scientific publication called The Doping Journal—sent me a blog in which he raised the same issue. And that blog, I saw, had led to instant and effusive derision by his online readers.

“Who pays this guy to think up things like this?” one respondent wrote, after Koudinov argued the undoubtedly extreme case that Phelps should give up his medals. Others called the idea that music should be classified as a performance enhancer “asinine,” “silliness,” “a crock,” “ridiculous,” and “mean-spirited.”

One clever commentator claimed that “The writer of the article is qualified
to write for that [Doping] Journal: He is a Dope!” Another, less clever, called Koudinov’s posting “a waste of ink.” In fact, as with most online postings, no ink was involved.

But let’s pursue the idea a bit further. When broken down to its mechanical elements, an iPod is nothing more, and nothing less, than what my hypothetical Chinese huckster was pitching—a device that transduces electrical energy into acoustical energy, namely music. And as everyone knows, music can have profound psychological and physiological effects. It can relax a listener. It can anger or enthrall. It can excavate deep emotions and energy.

If that is not specific enough, consider research published in the Journal of Nursing Research in 2003, which showed that hospitalized infants who had music played for them had significantly higher oxygen levels in their blood than other babies . Now consider that the 2008 World Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency, in Article M1 under the category of “Prohibited Methods,” bans methods of “artificially enhancing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen….”

I suppose this raises the interesting legal and philosophical question of what is “artificial.” In the words of one especially cynical blogger: “As just about everyone knows, breathing increases blood oxygenation. Should this also be considered illegal?” I won’t go that far. But even if normal breathing is acceptable, what about the arguably less-natural activities known as deep breathing or stretching or limbering up?

Moreover, music can affect more than mere oxygen levels. Koudinov cites research by Stefan Koelsch of the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, who has published research on biological responses to music. According to Koelsch, music can induce biochemical “relaxing effects.” Given all the talk during this year’s Olympics about the risks and downsides of “having the jitters,” which can throw even the best of gymnasts off their balance beams, relaxation is clearly a big potential benefit.

Yet anti-jitter drugs, such as beta blockers, are expressly prohibited in many Olympic sports (including marksmanship, as evidenced last week when the North Korean Olympic shooter Kim Jong Su was stripped of his silver and bronze medals after blood tests came up positive for propranolol, which can slow a heart that is racing from nervousness and, in so doing, reduce anxiety and enhance concentration).

Phelps may even have received a double benefit by yanking out his ear buds in the last minute or two before competing. Research published in 2005 suggests that intense music followed by a sudden silent pause may be just the ticket for someone poised at the edge of an Olympic pool, since the music itself can boost arousal and the sudden silence that follows can induce, in handy sequence, a wave of relaxation.

“Music, especially in trained subjects, may first concentrate attention during faster rhythms, then induce relaxation during pauses,” that study concluded.

...continue reading full article at the ScienceProgress.org web site

Does music give Michael Phelps an unfair advantage?

2008-08-14T01:54:00.003+03:00

For a referred article by the Doping Journal, images, timing and other data please use this citation and link:

A Koudinov. Scientific evidence invalidates Beijing 2008 Olympic Swimming medals
The Doping Journal Vol. 5, 2 (13 August 2008)

Did you notice that Michael Phelps wears earphones and is listening music just before his every Olympic start, at Beijing's Olympiad Water Cube pool deck, be it finals or semifinals? I first noticed that before his first gold swim on August 10: Phelps removed earphones 2 minutes before the start, and he was the only swimmer who worn earphones at the pool deck. Intriguing scientific evidence testifies: Listening to music improves blood oxygen capacity and is a performance enhancement.

There could be several mechanisms, says Stefan Koelsch of Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, Germany, who has published 40 articles on the subject of how the body reacts to music. Dr. Koelsch says that "music can have influences on the breathing rate (e.g. via emotional effects such an increased arousal) which will alter oxygen levels in the blood, or relaxing effects (so that fewer muscles consume oxygen, which also increases oxygen levels)." He says that his group "has reported clear changes in breathing rate on a conference last year, with breathing rate being higher during pleasant music." In line with Koelsch conclusion are the data of the research article by Luciano Bernardi group of the University of Pavia, Italy, implying that the withdrawal of music shortly before the swim race induces relaxing effects noted by Koelsch.

Readers talk:

"I can understand why many of you claim heresy for the words of the author of this article. But just take Michael Phelps out of the picture, and just use any athlete. If listening to music increases oxygen to the bloodstream - which is an artificial act, it technically falls under the definitions of the codes and is illegal... But of anybody, Michael Phelps does it for a reason, and he knows why."

Posted by Ben at Baltimore Sun Olympics Sports Blog, August 14, 2008 6:59 PM Voice your public or scientific opinion after reading Doping Journal article.

Evidence comes from the research done with human infants. It showed that music causes better saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen (a so-called SPO(2) parameter, compared with control subjects receiving no music, indicating an "enhancement of oxygen transfer") and that increased by music, oxygen saturation returns to the baseline faster compared with control, making it hard to detect the transient oxygen saturation shortly thereafter. While Koelsch preferred his own explanation on how music can improve body oxygen capacity, Dr. Alexander Cherniak, a researcher at the Chuchalin Pulmonology Institute of Moscow, Russia agrees that medical experimentation with infants allows good standardization of the research protocol, appropriate statistics and could be projected onto the adults.

So what? Can one call listening to music shortly before entering the swimming pool for competition a performance enhancement? Yes, say both Koelsch and Cherniak. If so, how long could this enhancement last? "Duration [of the effect is] not certain, from seconds to minutes," adds Koelsch. Beijing Olympic and world records by Phelps fall into the expert's projected time frame. Yes, testifies Dr. Vance Bergeron, of Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, Laboratoire de Physique in Lyon, France: "[M]usic next to the swimming pool, less than 2 minutes before the start could indicate performance enhancement because of transient increase of blood oxygen capacity."

Bergeron adds that such a performance enhancement is "a bio-chemical feedback mechanism from an external source. The external source in the present case, music, is available to everyone, not harmful to the athlete or his peers, and carried out under full disclosure, hence I do not see how this conflicts with fair play and honesty," but says that "I am not an expert on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)."

Well, one doesn't have to be an expert on WADA policies, as the scientific evidence provided herein enforces all to take WADA code as is. The Prohibited List 2008 of The World Anti-Doping Code reads:

PROHIBITED METHODS
Article M1. ENHANCEMENT OF OXYGEN TRANSFER
The following are prohibited:
2. Artificially enhancing the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen...

Straightforward ruling results in a straightforward conclusion: Listening to music through earphones before the start is in line with other measures prohibited. Therefore, Phelps' Beijing swimming golds is faked and should go to others who battle for it fairly.

Doping Journal, www.dopingjournal.org , is an independent free online publication on every aspect of doping science and antidoping policies. The journal serves an unbiased research and development of the science on doping, fair and science based transparent anti-doping laws, transparency of policies and the translation of the research into routine lab practice. Special objective is to protect athletes from the misconduct by WADA, IOC, CAS and Sports Federations. The journal aims to become a leader and worldwide forum on doping science and practices by all interested parties, scientists, medical professionals, athletes and lawyers. Alexei Koudinov and The Doping Journal have no competing financial interests.

This essay is also available at Rick Maeses's Beijing Olympics Blog Of the Baltimore Sun Sports Section (13 August 2008)

First American swimming Olympic gold, world record invalidated by Michael Phelps' performance enhancement

2008-08-10T19:35:00.005+03:00

For the latest account on this subject, images, timing and other data please see a referred article by the Doping Journal:

A Koudinov. Scientific evidence invalidates Beijing 2008 Olympic Swimming medals
The Doping Journal Vol. 5, 2 (13 August 2008)

During Athens 2004 Summer Olympic games we explained why music by the pool is a behavioral doping and prohibited by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in competition blood-doping method of "the use of products that enhance the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen" (Doping J, Vol.1, 1, 27 August 2004 www.dopingjournal.org/content/1/1). We based our conclusion on the analysis of the previously published research (J Nurs Res. 2003 Sep; 11(3): 209-16) that showed how in humans, music makes saturation of oxyhemoglobin significantly higher (compared with control subjects not receiving music therapy), and that as a result of music the level of oxygen saturation returns to the baseline faster (compared to the control subjects receiving no music), making it hard to detect the transient enhancement of the blood oxygen capacity shortly thereafter.

These data imply that music by the pool is not yet recognized blood-doping method that conflicts with the essence of olympism, and WADA/IOC calls for "ethics, fair play and honestly". Wearing headphones by Michael Phelps today morning seconds before the 400 metres man individual medley may qualify an invalidation of the American first swimming Olympic gold and world record by Phelps.

By Alexei Koudinov, Editor

For more information please visit dopingjournal.org. email postmaster@dopingjournal.org, call +972 547 968607 or skype akoudinov

Developing strategies for detection of gene doping

2007-12-27T12:41:00.000+02:00

Write to authors to ask them to make this article freely available at DJ archive. Learn more

J Gene Med. 2007 Dec 17;10(1):3-20 [Epub ahead of print]
Baoutina A, Alexander IE, Rasko JE, Emslie KR.
National Measurement Institute, 1 Suakin St, Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia.

It is feared that the use of gene transfer technology to enhance athletic performance, the practice that has received the term 'gene doping', may soon become a real threat to the world of sport. As recognised by the anti-doping community, gene doping, like doping in any form, undermines principles of fair play in sport and most importantly, involves major health risks to athletes who partake in gene doping. One attraction of gene doping for such athletes and their entourage lies in the apparent difficulty of detecting its use. Since the realisation of the threat of gene doping to sport in 2001, the anti-doping community and scientists from different disciplines concerned with potential misuse of gene therapy technologies for performance enhancement have focused extensive efforts on developing robust methods for gene doping detection which could be used by the World Anti-Doping Agency to monitor athletes and would meet the requirements of a legally defensible test. Here we review the approaches and technologies which are being evaluated for the detection of gene doping, as well as for monitoring the efficacy of legitimate gene therapy, in relation to the detection target, the type of sample required for analysis and detection methods. We examine the accumulated knowledge on responses of the body, at both cellular and systemic levels, to gene transfer and evaluate strategies for gene doping detection based on current knowledge of gene technology, immunology, transcriptomics, proteomics, biochemistry and physiology.

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Discrimination of Recombinant and Endogenous Urinary Erythropoietin by Calculating Relative Mobility Values from SDS Gels

2007-12-06T23:54:00.000+02:00

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Int J Sports Med. 2007 Nov 30; [Epub ahead of print]
Kohler M, Ayotte C, Desharnais P, Flenker U, Ludke S, Thevis M, Volker-Schanzer E, Schanzer W.
Center for Preventive Doping Research - Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes the production of red blood cells, the key factor in the regulation of the oxygen transport, and has been abused by athletes for performance enhancement in endurance sports. Current methods to detect EPO misuse are based on isoelectric focussing (IEF), double blotting, and chemiluminescence detection. A new approach utilizing SDS-PAGE mobilities of target analytes is presented. Employing two internal standards (novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein and recombinant rat EPO), the assay provides a tool which allows the calculation of relative mobility values for endogenous urinary EPO and recombinant epoetins (e.g., Dynepotrade mark) and, thus, the distinction of these analytes in doping control samples. A reference group of 53 healthy volunteers and samples originating from a Dynepotrade mark (epoetin delta) excretion study conducted with a single person were analyzed and led to a significant discrimination of endogenous urinary and recombinant EPO. A clear differentiation was accomplished over a period of four days post-administration of a single injection of 50 IU/kg body weight. Hence, the method may be useful as a screening procedure in doping control or as complementary confirmation tool to the established IEF assay.

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Exercise-related menstrual dysfunction: implications for menopausal health

2007-12-05T12:36:00.000+02:00

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Menopause Int. 2007 Jun;13(2):88-9
Speed C.
Rheumatology and Sports and Exercise Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK

Physical activity is a well recognized approach to the enhancement of general health and wellbeing in both healthy and diseased populations. However, excessive activity can result in exercise-related menstrual dysfunction (ERMD), which can adversely affect bone health and increase the risk of infertility and cardiovascular events in later life. Physicians should maintain a high awareness of EMRD in assessing health risks in the menopausal woman.

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Smokeless tobacco use in sports: 'legal doping'?

2007-12-04T00:51:00.000+02:00

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Addiction. 2007 Dec;102(12):1847-8
Chiamulera C, Leone R, Fumagalli G.
Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

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Caffeine Consumption Amongst British Athletes Following Changes to the 2004 WADA Prohibited List

2007-12-02T11:45:00.000+02:00

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Int J Sports Med. 2007 Nov 16; [Epub ahead of print]
Chester N, Wojek N.
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

This study was undertaken to examine self-reported caffeine consumption and reasons for its use, amongst UK athletes, following its removal from the 2004 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. A convenience sample of track and field athletes (n = 193) and cyclists (n = 287) completed a postal or Web-based questionnaire. Messages were posted on athletics and cycling club Web sites and mailing lists to direct athletes to the Web-based questionnaire. Postal questionnaires were distributed at domestic sporting events. A higher proportion of cyclists (59.9 %) compared with track and field athletes (32.6 %) consumed caffeine to enhance performance (p < 0.001). A higher proportion of elite as opposed to sub-elite athletes representing cycling (p = 0.031) and athletics (p = 0.010) used caffeine to enhance performance. Of all caffeine containing products used, coffee, energy drinks, pharmaceutical preparations and caffeinated sports supplements were most prevalent. Results revealed that amongst UK athletes, the intention to use caffeine as an ergogenic aid was high, and that use was more widespread and accepted in competitive sport, especially at elite level, when compared to recreational sport.

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Validation of the growth hormone (GH)-dependent marker method of detecting GH abuse in sport through the use of independent data sets

2007-11-30T13:09:00.000+02:00

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Growth Horm IGF Res. 2007 Oct;17(5):416-23. Epub 2007 Jun 20.
Erotokritou-Mulligan I, Bassett EE, Kniess A, Sonksen PH, Holt RI.
Endocrinology and Metabolism Sub-Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, IDS Building (MP887), Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom

CONTEXT: The detection of exogenously administered growth hormone (GH) poses a formidable challenge but a detection method based on the measurement of two GH-dependent markers, IGF-I and type 3 pro-collagen (P-III-P) has been proposed. The measurement of multiple markers in conjunction with discriminant functions can improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection compared with single marker analysis.
OBJECTIVE: To provide further validation of the GH-dependent marker approach.
DESIGN: Analysis of discriminant function scores for GH detection on independent datasets. SETTING: Two independent (GH-2000 and Kreischa) double blind, placebo controlled, hGH administration studies.
SUBJECTS: Healthy active male volunteers.
INTERVENTION: GH-2000 proposed a discriminant function involving IGF-I and P-III- P while the Kreischa function involved IGF-I, P-III-P and IGFBP-3. After adjustment for assay differences the formulae were applied to the other dataset.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Ability to detect GH use in independent datasets using a predefined specificity of approximately 1 in 10000.
RESULTS: The GH-2000 formula was able to detect 90% of those receiving GH in the Kreischa study at one or more time points during the study period. This sensitivity was similar to that obtained on the original GH-2000 dataset. The Kreischa formula correctly identified 41% of individuals receiving GH in the GH-2000 study.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides further validation that the test proposed by GH-2000 based on IGF-I and P-III-P concentrations can be used to detect subjects receiving exogenous GH.

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Syncope due to Brugada syndrome in a young athlete

2007-11-29T13:12:00.000+02:00

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Br J Sports Med. 2007 Mar;41(3):180-1. Epub 2006 Nov 30
Esperer HD, Hoos O, Hottenrott K.
Medical Department, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg 39130, Germany.

A 30-year-old male athlete with exercise-related syncopal symptoms spontaneously exhibited a type 1 Brugada ECG and was inducible during electrophysiology study. He was diagnosed with symptomatic Brugada syndrome and deemed at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Thus, he received a cardioverter/defibrillator and was advised to abstain from further competitive sports activities. This case points to a role of the ECG in pre-participation screening. It also demonstrates that, in athletes with Brugada syndrome, repolarisation anomalies may be markedly attenuated during vigorous exercise and considerably increased immediately after exercise. The observed J-wave amplitude dynamics suggests enhancement of pre-existing autonomic dysfunction through heavy exertion.

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Is science killing sport?

2007-11-28T13:07:00.000+02:00

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EMBO Rep. 2007 May;8(5):433-5.
Is science killing sport? Gene therapy and its possible abuse in doping.
Filipp F.

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Use, abuse & biomedical detection of anabolic steroids and glucocorticoids in sport

2007-11-26T12:55:00.000+02:00

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Articles in French

Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2007 Sep;68(4):308-14. Epub 2007 Aug 8
Use and abuse of anabolic steroids and glucocorticoids in sport
Duclos M.
Service de medecine du sport et des explorations fonctionnelles, CHU de Gabriel-Montpied, 58, rue Montalembert, 63003 Clermont-Ferrand cedex 01, France
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Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2007 Sep;68(4):304-5. Epub 2007 Jul 31
Biochemical detection of hormone abuse
Saugy M.
Laboratoire suisse d'analyse du dopage, institut de medecine legale de l'universite de Lausanne, centre hospitalier universitaire Vaudois, 1005 Lausanne, Suisse.
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Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2007 Sep;68(4):306-7. Epub 2007 Jul 24
hGH-abuse in athletes.
Strasburger CJ, Wu Z, Bidlingmaier M.
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Endocrinology, Campus Mitte, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, 1, Chariteplatz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Sport's medicalization

2007-11-24T12:51:00.000+02:00

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Recenti Prog Med. 2007 Sep;98(9):433-6
Article in Italian
Cristani A, Romagnoli E, Boldrini E.
Unita Operativa di Medicina II, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Ospedale Policlinico, Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena

Medicalization (abuse of sport drinks, supplements and drugs) involves more and more of the sport world, casting doubt on the credibility of results. causes and responsibilities are individuated. Characteristics of two commonly used supplements (creatine, branched-chain amino acids) are analyzed in order to show risks and ambiguities for athletes and the way to come out of it.

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Outcomes of a prospective trial of student-athlete drug testing: the Student Athlete Testing Using Random Notification (SATURN) study

2007-11-22T12:48:00.000+02:00

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J Adolesc Health. 2007 Nov;41(5):421-9
Goldberg L, Elliot DL, MacKinnon DP, Moe EL, Kuehl KS, Yoon M, Taylor A, Williams J.
Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland Oregon 97239-3098, USA

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of random drug and alcohol testing (DAT) among high school athletes. METHODS: This was a 2-year prospective randomized controlled study of a single cohort among five intervention high schools with a DAT policy and six schools with a deferred policy, serially assessed by voluntary, confidential questionnaires. DAT school athletes were at risk for random testing during the full academic year. Positive test results were reported to parents or guardians, with mandatory counseling. Indices of illicit drug use, with and without alcohol use, were assessed at the beginning and end of each school year for the past month and prior year. Potential mediating variables were evaluated. RESULTS: Student-athletes from intervention and control schools did not differ in past 1-month use of illicit drug or a combination of drug and alcohol use at any of the four follow-up periods. At the end of the initial school year and after 2 full school years, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less drug use during the past year (p < .01) compared to athletes at the deferred policy schools. Combining past year drug and alcohol use together, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less use at the second and third follow-up assessments (p < .05). Paradoxically, DAT athletes across all assessments reported less athletic competence (p < .001), less belief authorities were opposed to drug use (p < .01), and indicated greater risk-taking (p < .05). At the final assessment, DAT athletes believed less in testing benefits (p < .05) and less that testing was a reason not to use drugs (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: No DAT deterrent effects were evident for past month use during any of four follow-up periods. Prior-year drug use was reduced in two of four follow-up self-reports, and a combination of drug and alcohol use was reduced at two assessments as well. Overall, drug testing was accompanied by an increase in some risk factors for future substance use. More research is needed before DAT is considered an effective deterrent for school-based athletes.

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Also see: Comment in J Adolesc Health. 2007 Nov;41(5):419-20.

Dietary Supplementation of High-performance Canadian Athletes by Age and Gender

2007-11-20T12:39:00.000+02:00

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Clin J Sport Med. 2007 Nov;17(6):458-464
Erdman KA, Fung TS, Doyle-Baker PK, Verhoef MJ, Reimer RA.
Faculty of Kinesiology; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences; and Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine dietary supplementation practices and opinions, preferred means for dietary supplement (DS) education, and antidoping opinions among elite Canadian athletes varying in age and gender. DESIGN:: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey.
SETTING:: Elite athlete training centers in Calgary, Canada and surrounding area.
PARTICIPANTS:: A total of 582 high-performance athletes (314 male, 268 female). MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES:: High-performance athletes representing 27 sports with a mean age of 19.96 +/- 3.91 years completed a validated questionnaire assessing DS practices and opinions by recall. Sport categories included varsity, Canadian Sport Centre Calgary (CSCC), and National Sport School (NSS).
RESULTS:: There was extensive DS use, with 88.4% of participants taking >/=1 DS (mean of 3.08 +/- 1.87 DS per user) during the previous 6 months. Overall, sport drinks (22.4%), sport bars (14.0%), multivitamins and minerals (13.5%), protein supplements (9.0%), and vitamin C (6.4%) were most frequently reported. Older athletes were significantly more likely to report greater DS usage; to be advised by teammates, health food store retailers, and magazines; to prefer supplementation education via individual interviews; to claim awareness of anti-doping rules; and to perceive anti-doping compliance. Relative to gender, significant differences were observed for the types of DS reported; supplementation advisors; justifications for DS use; and awareness of anti-doping regulations.
CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of this validated and reliable questionnaire has the potential for broad use and provides insight into the factors that influence DS use in elite athletes.

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Validation of the growth hormone (GH)-dependent marker method of detecting GH abuse in sport through the use of independent data sets

2007-11-18T12:24:00.000+02:00

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Growth Horm IGF Res. 2007 Oct;17(5):416-23. Epub 2007 Jun 20.
Erotokritou-Mulligan I, Bassett EE, Kniess A, Sonksen PH, Holt RI.
Endocrinology and Metabolism Sub-Division, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, IDS Building (MP887), Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom.

CONTEXT: The detection of exogenously administered growth hormone (GH) poses a formidable challenge but a detection method based on the measurement of two GH-dependent markers, IGF-I and type 3 pro-collagen (P-III-P) has been proposed. The measurement of multiple markers in conjunction with discriminant functions can improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection compared with single marker analysis.
OBJECTIVE: To provide further validation of the GH-dependent marker approach.
DESIGN: Analysis of discriminant function scores for GH detection on independent datasets.
SETTING: Two independent (GH-2000 and Kreischa) double blind, placebo controlled, hGH administration studies. SUBJECTS: Healthy active male volunteers.
INTERVENTION: GH-2000 proposed a discriminant function involving IGF-I and P-III- P while the Kreischa function involved IGF-I, P-III-P and IGFBP-3. After adjustment for assay differences the formulae were applied to the other dataset.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Ability to detect GH use in independent datasets using a predefined specificity of approximately 1 in 10000. RESULTS: The GH-2000 formula was able to detect 90% of those receiving GH in the Kreischa study at one or more time points during the study period. This sensitivity was similar to that obtained on the original GH-2000 dataset. The Kreischa formula correctly identified 41% of individuals receiving GH in the GH-2000 study.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides further validation that the test proposed by GH-2000 based on IGF-I and P-III-P concentrations can be used to detect subjects receiving exogenous GH.

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Switch off the light on cycling, switch off the light on doping

2007-11-16T00:51:00.000+02:00

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Br J Sports Med. 2007 Nov 5; [Epub ahead of print]
Lippi G, Franchini M, Guidi GC.
Sez. Chimica e Clinica, Dip. Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Verona University, Italy

There is rather a long history of fraud in sport competitions, and doping has plagued the Tour de France almost since its beginning in 1903, culminating on July 13, 1967, with the dramatic death of British cyclist Tom Simpson on the climb of the Mont Ventoux, attributed to the use of amphetamines and complicated by the now defunct practice of drinking as little as possible (1). Nearly a year after the 2006 "Tour de Chaos", when nine riders were ruled out of the race suspected to be implicated in an international doping probe based on blood transfusions and the winner of the Yellow jersey tested positive for testosterone (2), a sequel of events have again plagued the 2007 edition. First, a German rider was caught non-negative for testosterone in an out-of-competition antidoping control a few days before the start of the race. Then, an Italian rider was "non-negative" in a doping test for testosterone after stage 11 and a Spanish rider was also found guilty for erythropoietin misuse on the second rest day after stage 15. Later on, a Kazakh top-class rider and Tour contender has tested positive two times in 3 days, after stage 13, an individual time trial, which he won on an "impressive" manner, and after the mountains stage 15. The rider was suspected to have used blood doping by autologous transfusion, since a double red blood cell population was detected during a in-competition antidoping testing. Least but not last, the Danish rider who was wearing the yellow jersey (and already acclaimed as Tour winner) was fired by his team and was forced to withdraw from the race three stages to the end of the race because he has failed to heed several warnings about not informing the his national cycling federation regarding his whereabouts for possible unannounced doping tests (information on the whereabouts is vital for the effectiveness of out-of-competition random testing, to which the UCI attaches great importance). Finally, 2007 yellow jersey winner was formally enquired as a client of blood doping doctor Fuentes, involved in huge doping scandal widely known as "Operacion Puerto" (2). In a immediate reaction on what it is supposed to be the "greatest swindle in sport history", and which came not long after several Tour contenders (including the two riders who won the yellow and green jerseys in 1996) formally admitted to doping, the major German TV channels have decided to stop broadcasting the Tour, a resolution which was supported by most German political parties. Practically, it sounded exactly as "the right point in time to say enough is enough". The disappointing number of cyclists still involved in doping cases clearly attests that the innovative and pervasive strategies adopted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Cycling Unit (ICU) and several other Sport federations (3) are effective on an analytical basis, but they are probably inefficient to either prevent athletes to dope or modify this upsetting trend towards abuse of doping practices. Several top class athletes have been familiar with doping over the past decade and will probably continue to dope in the years to come, since their inclination to victory, along with the mirage of glory and money, will always overcome the risk of being found guilty. A strategy only based on prosecuting athletes to protect their health is no longer necessary, and it may even turn to be unproductive and costly (4). Therefore, a more radical strategy is needed. Since the enormous economical revenues around the most famous sports events worldwide (Olympics, football Word Championships, Tour de France) is thoroughly linked to sponsors and media coverage, the time has come to draw a line, and stop the media coverage of those events in which doping cases are revealing commonplace. In this perspective, the German TV channels have taken a foremost and audacious resolution. Desolately, little is changed form the 2006 "Tour de Chaos", and the situation has even degenerated (2). Since it is inconceivable that cycling is the only sport where doping is commonplace, the interruption of broadcasting sports competitions where doped athletes participate should be considered an advisable resolution, which should be extended to a variety of other sports events. The time has come to switch off the light on doping.

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Detraining and tapering effects on hormonal responses and strength performance

2007-11-15T13:17:00.000+02:00

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J Strength Cond Res. 2007 Aug;21(3):768-75.
Izquierdo M, Ibanez J, Gonzalez-Badillo JJ, Ratamess NA, Kraemer WJ, Hakkinen K, Bonnabau H, Granados C, French DN, Gorostiaga EM.
Studies, Research and Sport Medicine Center, Government of Navarra, Navarra, Spain.

This study examined the impact of 4 weeks of either complete cessation of training (DTR) or a tapering period (TAP; short-term reduction of the strength training volume, while the intensity is kept high), subsequent to 16 weeks of periodized heavy resistance training (PRT) on strength/power gains and the underlying physiologic changes in basal circulating anabolic/catabolic hormones in strength-trained athletes. Forty-six physically active men were matched and randomly assigned to a TAP (n = 11), DTR (n = 14), or control group (C; n = 21), subsequent to a 16-week PRT program. Muscular and power testing and blood draws to determine basal hormonal concentrations were conducted before the initiation of training (T0), after 16 weeks of training (T1), and after 4 weeks of either DTR or TAP (T2). Short-term DTR (4 weeks) results in significant decreases in maximal strength (-6 to -9%) and muscle power output (-17 and -14%) of the arm and leg extensor muscles. However, DTR had a significant (p < 0.01) larger effect on muscle power output more than on strength measurements of both upper and lower extremity muscles. Short-term (4 weeks) TAP reached further increases for leg (2%) and arm (2%) maximal strength, whereas no further changes were observed in both upper and lower muscle power output. Short-term DTR resulted in a tendency for elevation resting serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations, whereas the corresponding TAP experienced elevation in resting serum insulin-like binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). These data indicated that DTR may induce larger declines in muscle power output than in maximal strength, whereas TAP may result in further strength enhancement (but not muscle power), mediated, in part, by training-related differences in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations.

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Mass spectrometric determination of insulins and their degradation products in sports drug testing

2007-11-14T12:38:00.000+02:00

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Mass Spectrom Rev. 2007 Nov 13; [Epub ahead of print]
Thevis M, Thomas A, Schanzer W.
Institute of Biochemistry and Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne, Carl-Diem Weg 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany.

Insulins' anabolic and anti-catabolic properties have supposedly led to its misuse in sport. Hence, doping control assays were developed to allow the unequivocal identification of synthetic insulin analogs and metabolic products derived from human insulin and its artificial counterparts in urine and plasma specimens. Analyses were based on immunoaffinity purification and subsequent characterization of target analytes by top-down sequencing-based approaches, which were conducted with hybrid tandem mass spectrometers that consisted of either quadrupole-linear ion trap or linear ion trap-orbitrap analyzers. Diagnostic product ions and analytical strategies are presented and discussed in light of the need to unambiguously identify misused drugs in urine and plasma specimens for doping control.

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Screening for 2-quinolinone-derived selective androgen receptor agonists in doping control analysis

2007-11-13T13:15:00.000+02:00

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Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2007;21(21):3477-86
Thevis M, Kohler M, Maurer J, Schlorer N, Kamber M, Schanzer W.
Center for Preventive Doping Research-Institute of Biochemistry, German Sport University Cologne, Carl-Diem Weg 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany.

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) represent a class of emerging drugs with high potential for misuse in sports, and therefore members of this group are banned as anabolic agents by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Preventive approaches to restrict their use include early implementation of target analytes into doping control screening assays and evaluation of the mass spectrometric behavior of these drugs to allow their unequivocal identification as well as the characterization of structurally related compounds and metabolic products. Four model SARMs with the 6-alkylamino-2-quinolinone structure, including the advanced drug candidate LGD-2226, were synthesized. Fragmentation pathways after positive electrospray ionization and collision-induced dissociation were studied using an LTQ Orbitrap mass analyzer, and diagnostic product ions and common dissociation pathways were employed to establish a screening procedure targeting intact quinolinone-based SARMs as well as putative metabolic products such as dealkylated analogues. Therefore, features of a triple quadrupole mass analyzer such as multiple reaction monitoring and precursor ion scanning were utilized. Sample preparation based on commonly employed liquid-liquid extraction and subsequent liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric measurement allowed for detection limits of 0.01-0.2 ng/mL, and intra- and interday precisions between 3.2 and 8.5% and between 6.3 and 16.6%, respectively. Recoveries varied from 81 to 98%, and tests for ion suppression or enhancement effects were negative for all analytes.

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Performance enhancement with supplements: incongruence between rationale and practice

2007-11-12T12:33:00.000+02:00

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J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007 Nov 12;4(1):19 [Epub ahead of print]
Petroczi A, Naughton DP, Mazanov J, Holloway A, Bingham J.

BACKGROUND: Athletes are expected to consider multiple factors when making informed decision about the nutritional supplement use. Besides rules, regulations and potential health hazards, the efficacy of different nutritional supplements in performance enhancement is a key issue. The aim of this paper was to find evidence for informed decision making by investigating the relationship between specific performance-related reasons for supplement use and the reported use of nutritional supplements.
METHODS: The 'UK Sport 2005 Drug Free Survey' data (n = 874) were re-analysed using association [chi-square] and 'strength of association' tests [phi] to show the proportion of informed choices and to unveil incongruencies between self-reported supplement use and the underlying motives. Results: Participants (n = 520) reported supplement use in the pattern of: vitamin C (70.4%), creatine (36.1%), whey protein (30.6%), iron (29.8%), caffeine (23.8%), and ginseng (8.3%) for the following reasons: strength maintenance (38.1%), doctors' advice (24.2%), enhancing endurance (20.0%) ability to train longer (13.3%), and provided by the governing body (3.8%). Of thirty possible associations between the above supplements and reasons, 11 were predictable from literature precedents and only 8 were evidenced and these were not strong (phi < .7). The best associations were for the ability to train longer with creatine (reported by 73.9%, chi-square = 49.14, p < .001; phi = .307, p < .001)], and maintaining strength with creatine (reported by 62.6%, chi-square = 97.08, p < .001; phi = .432, p < .001) and whey protein (reported by 56.1%, chi-square = 97.82, p < .001; phi = .434, p < .001).
CONCLUSION: This study provided a platform for assessing congruence between athletes' performance enhancing reasons for supplement use and their actual use. These results suggest that a lack of understanding in supplement use. There is an urgent need to provide accurate information which will help athletes make informed choices about the use of supplements.

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Exercise-related menstrual dysfunction: implications for menopausal health

2007-11-09T12:36:00.000+02:00

The world anti-doping program and the primary care physician

2007-11-06T00:38:00.000+02:00

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Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Aug;54(4):701-11, x-xi
Hilderbrand RL
United States Anti-Doping Agency, 1330 Quail Lake Loop, Suite 260, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, USA

The presence of a prohibited substance in an athlete's urine (or blood, when applicable) or the use of a prohibited method constitutes a doping offense, even if the substance is a pharmaceutical and is properly prescribed. To avoid a doping offense for the therapeutic use of a prohibited substance or method the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) must be followed. When the TUE is required, the appropriate process must be completed before testing under conditions where the substance or method is prohibited. This article describes the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standards, which are part of the Code. In addition, the procedures for the proper preparation and submission of TUE requests are presented along with the manner in which the requests are considered by the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committees.

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Anabolic-androgenic steroids: use and abuse in pediatric patients

2007-11-05T00:38:00.000+02:00

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Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Aug;54(4):771-85, xii
Kerr JM, Congeni JA.
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, 4209 State Route 44, PO Box 95, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA

The "win at all costs" mentality fuels athletes to seek performance-enhancing substances, such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, to gain an advantage over their opponents. Nonathletes espouse this same attitude to "win" the battle of attractiveness. An enhanced understanding of anabolic-androgenic steroids and the motivations behind their abuse will arm pediatricians with the ability to engage their patients in a balanced discussion of the benefits and costly risks of anabolic-androgenic steroids and successfully deter further use.

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