Athletes become more sophisticated in testosterone use

Sportspeople become more and more sophisticated in intake of steroids. They study new methods to hide their usage of prohibited drugs. Some athletes spend time studying specialists’ conclusions which could help them to hide that they dope. Nowadays a method has been discovered: sportspeople can mask intake of testosterone with the help of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone which is secreted in body naturally. Thus, it can be difficult for anti-doping organizations to determine that a sportsperson has taken testosterone. T: E ratio testing is commonly utilized by anti-doping agencies. Such tests can display uncommon ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it is not able to show difference between testosterone that has been created in body naturally and that introduced into body with the help of injections, gels, etc.
 Declan Naughton and his colleagues at Kingston University ( London) have discovered that green tea has such compounds that are called “catechins”. They have ability to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme promotes attaching glucuronic acid to testosterone. In case UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the compounds that can mask testosterone use, are contained in green and white tea. Black tea lacks such compounds.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted some experiments. They claim that a cup of strong green tea hides intake of testosterone.
Thus, those sportspeople who take testosterone can reduce measures of testosterone which are excreted in urine by drinking of green or white tea. Green or white tea has capacity to block excretion of testosterone, enhancing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the specialists. If this process occurs, it means that it is not worthy to subject sportspersons to urine tests. Blood tests must be performed in order to detect testosterone use.
Olivier Rabin, the WADA’s scientist, affirms that regular checks of blood steroids will be added. Everything will be done by anti-doping organizations in order to prevent fooling of urine tests.