In layman’s terms, please.
Also, if the B is positive, do people dismiss him as another cheater or wait until the appeal-tests are done?
Testosterone basically helps muscles recover and become stronger.
If the B is positive, then yes, he should be presumed guilty. The onus is on him to clear his name.
It is a good question. I heard one doping expert on the radio say that testosterone is not the dope of choice for endurance athletes at all, found it quite surprising…you often hear about athletes who need to build lean muscle mass for explosive strength taking it testosterone, e.g. baseball players, sprinters, weight lifters, also body builders for muscle mass…
Amazing what the “experts” say. The dosage may vary, but it is still used as a recovery aid.
German doctor Kurt Moosburger, who has looked after Jörg Jaksche (among others) for the past two years, has told dpa that he believes that performance enhancing drugs are “indispensable” for high level cycling
In a frank interview, Moosburger pointed to the average speeds of modern professional races, especially hard tours. “The average in last year’s Tour was 41 kilometres per hour - that is incredible. You can do a hard Alpine stage without doping. But after that, the muscles are exhausted. You need - depending on your training conditions - up to three days in order to regenerate.”
To help recover, testosterone and human growth hormone can be used. “Both are made by the body and are therefore natural substances,” he said. “They help to build muscle as well as in muscle recovery.”
Dr Moosburger explained how it was done. “You put a standard testosterone patch that is used for male hormone replacement therapy on your scrotum and leave it there for about six hours. The small dose is not sufficient to produce a positive urine result in the doping test, but the body actually recovers faster.”
-http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jul06/jul07news3
Amazing what the “experts” say. The dosage may vary, but it is still used as a recovery aid.
That’s why it is abused by endurance athletes, but I have to wonder, is it really effective as such (esp. given that the amount administered must allow you to “fly below the radar”)? Women, obviously, have less testosterone than men, and smaller muscles at least partially as a result. Yet, I know of no evidence that women recover less well from repeated bouts of prolonged, strenuous exercise compared to men.
I am not an endocrinology expert, but when the Euro Pro docs are saying it works, then I give at least some credibility to that statement. I was also responding to the radio “expert” saying that it isn’t the drug of choice. Clearly testosterone is used by the pros, so it is at least A drug of choice, if not THE drug of choice.
Boosts blood oxygenation like EPO and relieves joint and tendon pain, in addition to preventing muscles from breaking down and increasing protein biosynthesis (building muscle).
basically, here you go, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7208746801970837835&q=bodybuilders+legs
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I am not an endocrinology expert, but when the Euro Pro docs are saying it works, then I give at least some credibility to that statement.
You’re kidding, right?
OK sorry. I was kidding. I actually AM an endocrinology expert 
OK sorry. I was kidding. I actually AM an endocrinology expert
dude if there is on think = performance in all sports, it is testestorone. you can take EPO but if your testosterone level is low (due to say zinc deficiency etc.) you will still perform like shit – ask alberto salazar (who I think had written stuff on these.) remember mary slaney – she was caught with messing with her testosterone level as well.
Andy is exactly right.
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The doses of testosterone needed to “improve recovery” are so supraphysiologic that an athlete would have no hope of passing any kind of test.
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At any dose I have ever heard of, the effects of testosterone are measured over several days to weeks (and I have seen weight lifters who take mind blowing amounts of anabolics).
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Testosterone patches contain precious little testosterone. Remember, they are intended for physiologic replacement in hypogonadal patients, not to turn you into The Hulk, help you ride faster, make you look 5 lbs thinner or improve your sex appeal.
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If things are indeed as this Mooseburger says they are, I suspect the strategy is really used for either the psychological benefit of the athlete, or as a money-maker for the person dispensing the drugs, since the average athlete/trainer knows little/nothing of endocrinology.
Phil
(An American-trained doc who has born witness to his share of doped athletes in both the sports medicine and endocrinology clinics.)
Apparently, it makes you want to wear baseball style caps (much to Tom Demerlys’ chagrin) backwards (to everyone else on Slowtwitchs’ chagrin).
;-p