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After the sensationalization of yesterday’s new “doping” scandal in cycling, I’ve been reading up on it and I’ve found out some interesting things about this testosterone level that they test for. A quote (bolding my emphasis):

Under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations, a ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone greater than 4:1 is considered a positive result and subject to investigation. The threshold was recently lowered from 6:1. The most likely natural ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in humans is 1:1.

Testosterone can build muscle and improve recovery time when used over a period of several weeks, said Dr. Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. But if Landis had been a user, his earlier urine tests during the tour would have been affected.

And surprise, surprise - the UCI (International Cycling Union) is stating that they don’t need to double check their results because they say “”We are confident in the first (test). For us, the first one is already good.”

Um, what if your testing policies are INCORRECT, asshole?

It’s a pretty well-known fact in the cycling circles that Lance Armstrong (7-time winner of the Tour if you’ve been under a rock for the past 8 years) has been hounded by accusations of doping by the UCI, amongst others, for years and every time he’s fought the accusations and has come out as being clean.

As the race leader, Landis would have been tested after stage 15 of the Tour, and again after regaining the yellow jersey in stage 19. Those tests are not being reported by the anti-doping authorities as positives - just the one after stage 17. The day after he had a beer.

Yes, beer.

Stage 16 kicked Landis in the ass and he lost over 8 minutes and the race lead - so that evening, he had a chat with his team coach and had a beer. The next day, he blew the doors off the competition. How could this affect his testosterone levels? A snippet from a Cycling News article (bolding my emphasis):

Two other factors have been shown to elevate T:E [testosterone:epitestosterone] levels: alcohol and intense effort. A 1988 study ^[3] found that ingestion of alcohol could increase the T:E ratio, though the effect is relatively small even for a large amount of alcohol. The subjects ingested between 110-160 g of ethanol (2 g/kg bodyweight), and researchers found that it “increased the ratio between testosterone and epitestosterone in urine from 1.14 +/- 0.07 to 1.52 +/- 0.09 in four healthy male volunteers. The increase ranged from 30% to 90% in the different subjects studied (mean 41%).”

Landis was quoted at the time as saying that he’d only had one beer and a small amount of Jack Daniels later on. Even a pint of normal strength beer generally doesn’t contain more than 20 g of alcohol, while a shot of whiskey contains about 10 g - a much lower level than was studied by the Swedish researchers.

Certain types of intense effort have also been shown to increase the T:E ratio^[4]. It’s hard to imagine a more intense effort than Landis’ extraordinary escape in stage 17, but the studies that found high T:E after intense effort refer to the kinds of workout undertaken by bodybuilders. It’s not clear whether these findings translate to hours-long aerobic efforts, where strength plays a small part in performance.

Footnotes:
[3] Effect of ethanol on the ratio between testosterone and epitestosterone in urine.
Falk O, Palonek E, Bjorkhem I. Clin Chem. 1988 Jul;34(7):1462-4.
www.clinchem.org/cgi/reprint/34/7/1462?ijkey=f5c2e269a70b2808e91787e399f2030aa32cb7a0

[4] Resistance Training Increases Possibility Of A Positive Drug Test
Kraemer, W. J., & Ratamess, N. A. (2005). Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Medicine, 35, 339-361.
coachsci.sdsu.edu/csa/vol116/kraemer.htm

I say he’s innocent until proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Personally, I just think the UCI is pissed that another American won their precious race. Heh.

* * * * *

Had Chinese food with Bree last night and had a lot of fun. We realized it had been far too long since we’ve gotten together and chatted. That will have to change to be more frequent.

I’m very excited for the weekend - I get to spend it with someone amazing. I almost feel the need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

And yes, I’m still very, very happy.

It’s good to be me. :-)

WTF?!

July 27th, 2006. Published under General. No Comments.

From CNN.com a few minutes ago:

Landis tests positive
Phonak: Tour winner had high levels of testosterone
Posted: Thursday July 27, 2006 10:31AM

LONDON (AP) — Tour de France champion Floyd Landis tested positive for high levels of testosterone during the race, his Phonak team said Thursday on its Web site.

The statement came a day after cycling’s world governing body said an unidentified rider had failed a drug test during the Tour.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

The ONLY thing I can think of is that prior to the tour, when the news broke about his bad hip - it was reported that he had a shot of cortizone, but that shouldn’t produce a result like that.

Goodness - what the fuck is going on with this sport?!?!

RL: 26 July 2006

July 26th, 2006. Published under Uncategorized. No Comments.

Warmup
Time: 4:00
Distance: 0.257mi

Run
Time: 30:00
Distance: 2.767mi

Cool Down
Time: 5:00
Distance: 0.317mi

Notes: Too hot outside so I ran on the treadmill.

Time Flies!

July 26th, 2006. Published under General. No Comments.

Today is once again hot and muggy. I’m sick of it!!

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I know I’ve been skirting around the issue of what’s making me so happy lately.

I’m going to skirt it just a teensy bit longer - but only because there’s one last puzzle piece that needs to fall into place before I want to get into it on here in any great detail.

However, I will say that I have the most amazing man in my life right now and he makes me so very happy. Giddy, even.

I have a lot to do before Saturday. :-)

A Work-Related question.

July 25th, 2006. Published under General. 1 Comment.

What’s the angriest music I can play at work and not get in trouble?

Right now, it’s Pearl Jam’s “Vs.” album.

(Because of “Go”, “Blood” and “Rearviewmirror”.)

However, it is probably a very good thing I don’t have any Rage Against The Machine here at work. Somehow I don’t think they’d appreciate me blaring “Testify” from my computer speakers right now.

Just a hunch.

[EDIT] - “Bastard” by Ben Folds is doing nicely too.

Pollen can suck it!

July 24th, 2006. Published under General. No Comments.

I’m really sick of sneezing. I know something is pollenating right now, because there’s the unmistakable white fluff floating around EVERYWHERE.

I went for a run yesterday afternoon and not only was it sweltering (which I can handle if I have water with me, which I did) but my head was stuffed up something awful. Tonight, rather than going out into the hot weather and allergens, I’m going to do one of my yoga tapes instead.

I’m all achy and tired today. Blah!