Diuretics and Masking Agents

Diuretics are products which help to remove body fluids. They cause a lost of water due to partial paralysis of water reabsorption. Powerful diuretics can increase orine flow about 6 liters per day.

Masking agents are compounds which are taken with the purpose of hide or mask the presence of others ilegal drugs during the antidoping tests. Masking agents have the potential of ruin or hide the prohibited substance in orine. For that reason, diuretics can be considered as masking agents due to orine dilution that give rise to smaller levels of the prohibited substance when is excrete by the body.

Diuretics and others masking agents has the 5º position among the most used drugs of all adverse analyzed results in the world. They are prohibited both inside and outside the competition. In the following image we can see specifically which are prohibited by WADA:

Kidney is the main organ trough these drugs are excreted.  Chemically, diuretics are a group of compunds which stimulate or inhibit several hormones that are naturally present in the body for regulate the orine production by kidneys.

Athletes use diuretics with the purpose of lose weigth quickly, specillay in that sports classified by weigth categories, and/or to cover the presence of other prohibited substances. However, the fluid losses through orine causes by this kind of drugs can lead to the depletion of intravascular volume. For that reason, an overage diuretics use generally drive to dehydration and hypovolemia, which is one of the main causes of hypokalemia. This situation may produce effecst as hypotension, muscular weakness, muscle cramps, irregular neurological functioning, cardiac arrhythmias or even heart attacks.

Why are cannabinoids prohibited? Functioning and effects.

The Cannabinoids are a group of natural substances present in the plant Cannabis Sativa. Chemically they are derivated of dibenzopyrene or monoterpenoids. The Cannabis Sativa contanis about 420 chemical compounds of which the more important are THC, cannabinol (CBN) y cannabidiol (CBD). You can see the molecular form of these substances below.

As happen with the opiates, that they join directly to the endorphine receptors, the cannabinoids receptors join to his specific molecule: the anandamide. The anadamide is involved in the regulation of the mood, memory, appetite, pain, cognition and feelings.

Cannabis is widely use to have the characteristics of mood alteration and relaxation. The lack of scientific evidence about how cannabis could increase the performance is associated with the obvius evidence of their harmful effects over psychomotor skills and the cognosctive function, what could be dangerous in certain sport modalities (sky, motor sports).

The prohibition of the use of cannabinoids in sports is based in the safety concern during training and competition. According to the WADA, cannabinoids samples not are analysed in out competition tests.

The primary effects of cannabinoids are exercised over the central nervous system and cause lack of physical effort motivation and a weakening of the psychomotor system, memory and perception in the short term. Regarding to the physiological effects, cannabinoids cause tachycardia, bronchodilation and a greater blood flow to the limbs. The chronic consumption of cannabinoids could produce the destruction of CB1 brain receptors, giving as a result a blood flow shortening and a decrease in the glucose and oxygen supply to the brain what could produce attention déficit, memory lose and a deteriorated learning capacity.

Finally, it should be noted that since the beginning of 2018 Cannabidiol(CBD) stopped being considered as a ilegal substance by the WADA. We will talk deeper about it in following posts.

One of the sports with most cases of doping: football

Do you know which is one of the sport with most cases discovered of doping? Is the same that usually is named as ‘’The king of sports’’. Yes, it is football, and we can find more than 50 cases of doping.

Recognised players as Adrian Mutu, Pep Guardiola or Edgar Davids are in this list. Others as Dani Benitez or Paddy Kenny are less famous than the previous ones, but we can also find them in the same list. If you do not know any of these players, we are going to help you with a PowerPoint with pictures of them.

Pep Guardiola, who is one of the best coaches in the world, has also been accused of doping some years ago. Exactly, he was accused in 2001, when he was playing for Brescia. The test claimed that he took Nandrolone, which is used in anemias, cachexia (wasting syndrome), osteoporosis, breast cancer, etc. Becaouse of this, he had to pay 2.000€ and could not play for 4 months.

Another famous player in this list is Jaap Stam. The ex player of Manchester United, AC Milan and others clubs was surprised with a doping test in which he gave positive results in Nandrolone, as Guardiola. As penalty, he could not play for 4 months.

Recently, in 2014, one case appeared in Spain. He is not a famous player, but the new was known in every city of this country. Dani Benitez, ex player of Granada C.F. had to pass a doping test before the match between Granada C.F. and Betis. The test gave positive results in cocaine. After this, he could not play for 2 years, and then, he played for other teams as Alcorcon or Racing de Ferrol.

Do you know other football players that have used doping methods? Do you agree with the penalties?

Thanks for reading us,

Sergio Torreblanca.

Bibliography:

https://as.com/futbol/2002/02/08/mas_futbol/1013122836_850215.html

https://canales.okdiario.com/real-madrid/futbol/2017/01/11/sombra-del-dopaje-vuelve-salpicar-guardiola-manchester-city-acusado-violar-normas-antidoping-140918

https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/fuera-de-juego/el-otro-doping-de-mutu-780099

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/Sir_Alex_Ferguson/10397197/Rio-Ferdinands-brutal-eight-month-drug-ban-was-the-fault-of-incompetent-testers-according-to-Alex-Ferguson.html

Is official: Canelo Álvarez banned for 6 months

Welcome everyone again to our blog. Some weeks ago we talk about the Canelo Alvarez positive drug test and the likely consecuences that this could cause for him. Finally, some days ago we knew the sentence so we will tell you the ending of this story below.

The Nevada Athletic Comission was met the past April 18th and decided ban Canelo Álvarez with 6 months of suspension. According to the judges, this penalty is due to a negligence for not examine the meal, since the Canelo’s lawyers claimed that the clembuterol positive was produced for adulterate food.

In a first moment, Canelo was going to be banned for 1 year, but for cooperate with the comission the sanction finally was reduced to 6 months. Thus Canelo Alvaréz will can be chosen for other boxer to fight from August 17th.

Shortly after the resolution, “Golden Boy”, the Canelo’s agent company, send out a announcement where said that they accept the rules and are satisfied with the resolution. Moreover, “Golden Boy” wanted to announce the date of the Canelo’s return: it will be the September 15th.

Now the question is: It will be against Golovkin? We will know in six months…

The end of an era, Lance Armstrong

Hi everyone, today I will talk about one of the biggest cyclist of the story, that messed his career because of the doping.
The ex professional and famous cyclist Lance Armstrong were accused of doping some years ago. He had used substances as EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and corticoids. Because of this, the last week he have been called to pay to the US Government 5 millions US$.

The ex Armstrong teammate, Floyd Landis, was the person who opened the doors to the discover of the Armstrong doping. LAndis accused him of doping when they were competing for the same colours.
When the USADA discovered Armstrong, they removed the seven trophies of champion of ‘Tour de la France’ that the cyclist had won and did not never allow to compete Armstrong. The US Postal, that sponsored Armstrong a big part of their career, claim more than 100 millions US$, that included all that they had been paid to Armstrong and images damages. Nevertheless, the US Government concluded that he ‘only’ had to pay a 5% of this figure, 5 millions US$.

Elliot Peters, Armstrong lawyer, told yesterday that this payment finish with all of the Armstrong acusement of doping to improve his performance. The ex ciclist admitted the acusement of doping and notice that is happy about finishing this sad stage of his life.
Do you consider that this cases of doping should finish with a payment? Or do you think that there would be another penalty?

Thanks for reading us,
Sergio Torreblanca.

Bibliography:
http://caracol.com.co/radio/2018/04/19/internacional/1524173855_935419.html
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2127335-el-doping-persigue-a-lance-armstrong-ahora-tuvo-que-pagar-us-5-millones-para-cerrar-un-caso-por-fraude-en-estados-unidos
https://eju.tv/2018/04/el-exciclista-lance-armstrong-acordo-el-pago-de-usd-5-millones-en-la-causa-que-lo-acusaba-de-fraude-federal/
https://www.clarin.com/deportes/polideportivo/lance-armstrong-pagara-millones-dolares-gobierno-unidos-escandalo-dopaje_0_ByiMYFI2f.html
http://www.eltiempo.com/deportes/ciclismo/armstrong-el-hombre-que-construyo-un-imperio-a-traves-del-dopaje-207628

Doping in Andalusians gyms

10 people were arrested (4 of them, younger than 18), 41 more investigated, and 1.336 dose of medicines intervened. This is the ‘Zute’ operation, by the Spanish ‘Guardia Civil’, in Granada, Spain. That network used to get the medicines to dope people who go to the gymnasium in this city and others like Málaga or Jaen.

First, they paid until 400€ to farmacist to get every recipe. Then, they sold them in the different gyms of the nearest provinces. Some of the medicines were Testex prolongatum, Proviron, Winstrol, Femara, Decadurabolin, Arimidex, Gonal and Trakimazin.

The ‘Guardia Civil’ have told that this network has used more than 400 recipes to provide the medicines. They acted from 2015 to 2017, when they were discovered. This medicines, for example, are used by menopausal women, and they costed to the pharmacies a total of 5.800€. This is an example of the increasing of illegal substances in people that do not compete, they only practice sports to improve their health. A new horizon for the doping.

What do you think about this topic? Do you consider it more dangerous than the doping in professionals athletes?

Thanks for reading us,

Sergio Torreblanca.

Bibliography:

http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/sevilla/20180417/442647131170/red-compra-medicamentos-dopaje-deporte-granada.html

https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20180417/golpe-dopaje-gimnasios-andaluces-detenidos-dosis-intervenidas/300470416_0.html

What are the TUEs? – A controversal topic

Welcome everyone again, in this new post, we are going to talk in depth about the Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs).

In previous posts we talked about a recent new, the assumption doping of Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and others irregularities in the Team Sky. This topic is controversal due to the supposed doping was produced for an excessive use of a substance considered as a TUE.

Image 1. Salbutamol (Ventolín) one of the TUE drugs more used nowadays. 

The TUEs are prohibited substances for WADA that can be used in exceptional chases for some athletes claiming theraupetic reasons previously. With the purpose of regulate this issue the WADA developed The International Standard for Use of Therapeutic Exemptions. In this mandatory International Standard is established the main conditions for achieve a TUE:

If an athlete have all these conditions and finally request a TUE, this application have to be assseded for the Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (TUEC). As a last resort, is the WADA TUEC the panel in charge for review the TUE decisions of other Anti-Doping Organizations. You can download the template of TUE application form clikcing here.

According to the established in The International Standard for Use of Therapeutic Exemptions:

An Athlete who needs a TUE should apply as soon as possible. For substances prohibited In-Competition only, the Athlete should apply for a TUE at least 30 days before his/her next Competition, unless it is an emergency or exceptional situation. The Athlete should apply to his/her National Anti-Doping Organization, International Federation and/or a Major Event Organization (as applicable), using the TUE application form provided.

The form must be accompanied by:

a. a statement by an appropriately qualified physician, attesting to the need for the Athlete to Use the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method in question for Therapeutic reasons; and

b. a comprehensive medical history, including documentation from the original diagnosing physician(s) (where possible) and the results of all examinations, laboratory investigations and imaging studies relevant to the application.

Each TUE will have a specified duration, as decided by the TUEC, at the end of which the TUE will expire automatically. If the Athlete needs to continue to Use the Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method after the expiry date, he/she must submit an application for a new TUE well in advance of that expiry date, so that there is sufficient time for a decision to be made on the application before the expiry date.

In the next drawing, we can see the process necessary for an non-international-level athlete for achieve a TUE.

Image 2. Process to get a TUE for an Non-International-Level Athlete.

In the chase, of international-level athlete or major events the process is longer and complicated, if

you are interested in know more about it you can read the whole information here.

Canelo Álvarez test positive again but...will be banned?

Welcome everyone to a new post. Some weeks ago we knew that the mexican wrestler Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez tested positive in a drug control ocurred in Gualadajara(Mexico). The test indicate the appearance of trace leves of the prohibited substance clembuterol which is a anabolic steroid characterise for be a powerful enhance-performance.

Now, the Nevada Athletic Comission has open an investigation and the first action has been the temporal ban although nowadays the mexician boxer can carry on his training. This temporal sanction Will be mantain until the next April 10 when a hearing on the complaint by the Nevada State Athletic has been set.

This hearing will be celebrate only 2 weeks before the figth for the middleweigth title versus Golovkin, making it doubtful the fight will proceed on that date. “Canelo” could face to a one year suspension since is the second time that test positive in a antidoping control, though it can be cut in half at the commission's discretion. Although in anychase the event could not be celebrate until August at the earliest.

On the other hand, the agent company of the mexician wrestler (Golden Boy Promotions) declare that Canelo’s positive sample was resulted by meat contamination "which has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico over the last years".

We just have to wait for a bit more than a week to know the verdict of the Nevada Athletic Comission and know if the awaited fight wil be take place on forecast date.

Is possible the doping in the E-Sports players?

e-Sports

The e-Sports (Electronic Sports) are the new trend in the ‘gamers’ world. In the 21th century this market has grown amazingly. Nowadays, much children dream to become a famous e-Sports player such as to be LeBron James or Lionel Messi.

In October 2017, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) considered the e-Sports as a sport, like football, basketball or handball, with this text about it:

‘’The Summit discussed the rapid development of what are called "eSports", and the current involvement of various Olympic Movement stakeholders. The Summit agreed that:
·         "eSports" are showing strong growth, especially within the youth demographic across different countries, and can provide a platform for engagement with the Olympic Movement.
·         Competitive "eSports" could be considered as a sporting activity, and the players involved prepare and train with an intensity which may be comparable to athletes in traditional sports.
·         In order to be recognised by the IOC as a sport, the content of "eSports" must not infringe on the Olympic values.
·         A further requirement for recognition by the IOC must be the existence of an organisation guaranteeing compliance with the rules and regulations of the Olympic Movement (anti-doping, betting, manipulation, etc.).
The Summit asked the IOC together with GAISF in a dialogue with the gaming industry and players to explore this area further and to come back to the Olympic Movement stakeholders in due course.’’

(picked up from https://www.olympic.org/news/communique-of-the-olympic-summit)

Before this new, only two Spanish football clubs had an e-Sports team: Valencia C.F. and Alcorcón C.F. Nevertheless, so many clubs have created a new e-Sports team in their ranks after that.

In this aspect, anyone suspected that the doping could affect this sport. That was until a e-Sports player called Kory ‘Semphis’ Friesen, who played for Cloud 9 team, admitted that his colleagues and him had consume some substances to improve their performance in the competitions. The substance that they usually consumed was ‘Adderall’, which they bought in USA. Adderal is used as an athletic performance enhancer and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an aphrodisiac and euphoriant. It can do that people can improve and keep their concentration.

Cloud 9 team

But, there is a big problem in this aspect. There is not any agency or comittee mandated of the anti doping plan in the e-Sports. Also, you can not find any doctor in these competitions, so anypeople can do an antidoping test.

One example of the importance of the anti doping measures is the NBA 2K League, that is represented by the NBA real teams, as Golden State Warriors or Denver Nuggets, for instance. As this is an oficial NBA competition, the players have to pass some drug tests, because they have to accomplish all the NBA rules. Here you can see a video about this league.

What is your opinion about this? In a future, do you think that more e-Sports players will consume substances to improve their performance? We are waiting your answers in the comments.

Thanks for reading us,

Sergio Torreblanca.

Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins under suspicion - It is doping or not?

Some weeks ago, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee make public a report declaring that Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins would have used drugs allowed under anti-doping rules to enhance performance instead of just for medical need.

Concretaly, the report accuse Team Sky of had used the anty-inflammatory drug triamcionolone to prepare Bradley Wiggins for the 2012 Tour de France, that as all know, the britanian cyclist finally won.

Triamcionolone is a substance banned during competition under WADA rules, unless the athlete has a therapeutic use exemption (TUE),  but is permitted out of competition. 

According to the report, Bradley Wiggins would have taken this drug, the final day at 2011 Criterium du Dauphine. If this were true, Wiggins could be banned with two without compete and the loss of results achieved.

Apart from this drug, the report inform about the unclear use of other substances such a testosterone, salbutamol or fluimucil. Many of them drugs are consider as TUEs but Team Sky could have used it for enhance the performance of some his athletes, claiming a "medical use". On his behalf, Team Sky have strongly denied have used TUEs for anything other purpose that medical need.

At the moment, this issue is only a report without a reliable evidence, so that can not lead to any type of sanction, although is expected that UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) open a investigation trying to clarify this matter in the following days.