Doping in other sports?

[Rob5091]

The whole story about Millana Zagartdinova began with a press relaese by TASS from RUSADA on October 30th but was first picked up by Ukrainian press (the original link I posted), then Swedish press (where I saw it first). It does not seem to have been posted on TASS's english service -

https://tass.ru/sport/22266421 (googling translation)

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) conducted an investigation into the discovery of steroids in the doping test of 14-year-old swimmer Millana Zagartdinova, but the agency failed to establish how the prohibited substance got into the body of a minor athlete. This was reported to TASS by the press service of RUSADA.

Since then Finnish and Polish press have re-posted the story, but surprisingly not the English media. The animosity in the original article can be put down to the ongoing Ukraine/Russia conflict.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The whole story about Millana Zagartdinova began with a press relaese by TASS from RUSADA on October 30th but was first picked up by Ukrainian press (the original link I posted), then Swedish press (where I saw it first). It does not seem to have been posted on TASS's english service -

https://tass.ru/sport/22266421 (googling translation)


Since then Finnish and Polish press have re-posted the story, but surprisingly not the English media. The animosity in the original article can be put down to the ongoing Ukraine/Russia conflict.

Ooof, this is such a can of worms and I'm more confused than before... but why take or be given turinabol of all things given its history with young female GDR swimmers?

 

[Rob5091]

Ooof, this is such a can of worms and I'm more confused than before... but why take or be given turinabol of all things given its history with young female GDR swimmers?

Maybe the real point of the press release from RUSADA was the fact that at the bottom of the release it states that 17 under 18 years old athletes have been banned for doping. No details unlike the Milana Zagartdinova story. Her mentor Igor Malikov maybe was doing things he should n't but it's all a bit odd.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Maybe the real point of the press release from RUSADA was the fact that at the bottom of the release it states that 17 under 18 years old athletes have been banned for doping. No details unlike the Milana Zagartdinova story. Her mentor Igor Malikov maybe was doing things he should n't but it's all a bit odd.

There's so much to unpack here and, as you had mentioned earlier, no English-speaking site has picked this story up. Odd. Not sure I can trust google translate...

I needed a refresher on what turinabol exactly is and its side effects, I found this video.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06f0hbRLg0Y


According to this guy turinabol is absolutely never taken alone if you know what you're doing, so there's a chance the Russian gal might have been on something else as well. (Doubt she would be popping anabolics all on her own, surely there must have been an adult who knew what he was doing who ran the show?)

 

[Nomad]

That's a good video on Turinabol. I've seen some of his videos where he analyzes other anabolic steroid compounds.

Are you familiar with the Franke paper on the hormonalization of the GDR female athletes? He goes over the declassified GDR State-sponsored doping program documents that used Turinabol as the country's primary anabolic steroid compound with their Olympic caliber athletes:

Hormonal doping and androgenization of athletes: a secret program of the German Democratic Republic government

Abstract. Several classified documents saved after the collapse of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1990 describe the promotion by the government of

academic.oup.com

The primary risk of Turinabol is like other oral anabolic steroids, it's a 17-alpha alkylated compound which makes it hepatoxic.

 

[Rob5091]

There's so much to unpack here and, as you had mentioned earlier, no English-speaking site has picked this story up. Odd. Not sure I can trust google translate...

I needed a refresher on what turinabol exactly is and its side effects, I found this video.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06f0hbRLg0Y


According to this guy turinabol is absolutely never taken alone if you know what you're doing, so there's a chance the Russian gal might have been on something else as well. (Doubt she would be popping anabolics all on her own, surely there must have been an adult who knew what he was doing who ran the show?)

Thanks for the link to the video! Interesting point that Turinabol is not commercially available anymore, so where did it come from and I don't suppose a teen swimmer got hold of it.
Also she tested positive on 5th May 2023 according to RUSADA's website at https://rusada.ru/upload/iblock/40e...ok-diskvalifitsirovannykh-sportsmenov-ENG.pdf
The only reason I can think of why the English speaking media has not re-posted the TASS article is the age of the swimmer. The Ukrainians of course have no qualms about it as they're at war with the Russians.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

That's a good video on Turinabol. I've seen some of his videos where he analyzes other anabolic steroid compounds.

Are you familiar with the Franke paper on the hormonalization of the GDR female athletes? He goes over the declassified GDR State-sponsored doping program documents that used Turinabol as the country's primary anabolic steroid compound with their Olympic caliber athletes:

Hormonal doping and androgenization of athletes: a secret program of the German Democratic Republic government

Abstract. Several classified documents saved after the collapse of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1990 describe the promotion by the government of

academic.oup.com

The primary risk of Turinabol is like other oral anabolic steroids, it's a 17-alpha alkylated compound which makes it hepatoxic.

Thanks for the link, I'm a slow reader so it'll take me a while, but I'll look into it.

I have seen several documentaries and interviews with former female swimmers from both the GDR and the US - the victorious GDR swimmers are now in poor health and the US swimmers seem rather bitter because they feel robbed, so nobody won.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Thanks for the link to the video! Interesting point that Turinabol is not commercially available anymore, so where did it come from and I don't suppose a teen swimmer got hold of it.
Also she tested positive on 5th May 2023 according to RUSADA's website at https://rusada.ru/upload/iblock/40e...ok-diskvalifitsirovannykh-sportsmenov-ENG.pdf
The only reason I can think of why the English speaking media has not re-posted the TASS article is the age of the swimmer. The Ukrainians of course have no qualms about it as they're at war with the Russians.

I understand her name shouldn't have been released because she's a minor, but her young age and the fact it was turinabol she was popped for is so shocking that I think at least that could have been mentioned by the English-speaking press...

I think nowadays you can probably find just about anything on the web be it legal or otherwise, but like you I doubt a teen would know what to do with steroids (responsibly). I think her mentor deserves to be looked at, but unless you read Russian and are willing to dig around Russian news sites I doubt we'll hear much more about this. That's if he's being looked at by the Russians...

Thanks for the link to RUSADA's website btw., wow, that's a lot of power and weightlifters who got popped! Not shocking weightlifters dope, it's just the sheer number of them.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I understand her name shouldn't have been released because she's a minor, but her young age and the fact it was turinabol she was popped for is so shocking that I think at least that could have been mentioned by the English-speaking press...

I think nowadays you can probably find just about anything on the web be it legal or otherwise, but like you I doubt a teen would know what to do with steroids (responsibly). I think her mentor deserves to be looked at, but unless you read Russian and are willing to dig around Russian news sites I doubt we'll hear much more about this. That's if he's being looked at by the Russians...

Thanks for the link to RUSADA's website btw., wow, that's a lot of power and weightlifters who got popped! Not shocking weightlifters dope, it's just the sheer number of them.

Weightlifting is also so currupt when it comes to hiding positives in exchange of money that the freaking OC wants to get them out of the Olympics. The Chinese for example never got busted, until Lyu Xiaojun of all people (multiple time WR holder, won 2 Olympic gold medals and a silver one + and 5 time WC) got busted for freaking EPO.

I still was sad when they busted Klokov, the Russian beast...

RUSADA actually catching people and suspending them (150 positives last year and 27 missed test last months) is actually a good sign. At the very least they try to go after the radioactive ones from the regional teams/lower level who try to get into the elite/national teams by taking huge risk and want to show that they are actually testing athletes constantly, so that they'll be back pretty soon one *you know what* ends.

 

[BullsFan22]

Weightlifting is also so currupt when it comes to hiding positives in exchange of money that the freaking OC wants to get them out of the Olympics. The Chinese for example never got busted, until Lyu Xiaojun of all people (multiple time WR holder, won 2 Olympic gold medals and a silver one + and 5 time WC) got busted for freaking EPO.

I still was sad when they busted Klokov, the Russian beast...

RUSADA actually catching people and suspending them (150 positives last year and 27 missed test last months) is actually a good sign. At the very least they try to go after the radioactive ones from the regional teams/lower level who try to get into the elite/national teams by taking huge risk and want to show that they are actually testing athletes constantly, so that they'll be back pretty soon one *you know what* ends.

If only USADA could do the same

 

[Izzyeviel]

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Jose D. Hernandez was suspended for next year's Arizona Complex League season on Wednesday following a positive test for boldenone and nandrolone under baseball's minor league drug program.

Hernandez, 21, hit .302 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 26 games this year for the ACL Dodgers. The Venezuelan agreed to a contract with the Dodgers in 2019 that included a $10,000 signing bonus.

Twenty players have been suspended this year for positive drug tests, including nine under the minor league program and nine under the new program for minor league players assigned outside the United States and Canada.

Two players have been suspended this year under the major league drug program.

Noelvi Marté, a 22-year-old infielder who was considered Cincinnati's top prospect, missed the first 80 games following a positive test for boldenone.

Toronto infielder Orelvis Martínez was suspended for 80 games on June 23 following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug clomiphene, an announcement made two days after his major league debut.

https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/42648620/dodgers-minor-leaguer-jose-hernandez-suspended-doping

 

[Sciatic]

Ah, that cheeky NFL—despite already having lenient doping policies, they announced they will be lessening some of the existing penalties.
Particularly interesting re: PEDs: if there is a positive test for a banned substance the player will be allowed to continue playing if the specific substance (or perhaps the amount) is determined not to have a performance-enhancing effect. Seems that will lead to tons of appeals arguing that a drug does not enhance performance at the low level found on the test. And what about masking agents? They just don’t care.

NFL, union agree to changes to drug policies

The new policies include changes to testing procedures, fines and other discipline associated with violations of both the performance-enhancing drug policy and the policy on substances of abuse.

www.espn.com

 

[search]

Alpine Skier Breezy Johnson faces a suspension for whereabouts violations:

American skier Breezy Johnson says she won’t race during anti-doping rules investigation

Skier Breezy Johnson is under investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and will not race during the case, which could lead to a two-year ban.

eu.usatoday.com

Shouldn't she normally be provisionally suspended after the 3rd strike automatically, though? "Out of respect for my fellow racers, I have decided not to compete until the matter is resolved" is what she said about it herself.

Johnson just returned from her ban, and talking about the circumstances on German TV, Vicky Rebensburg yesterday said that it's easy to miss a test because on from a certain level of success of the athlete, the testers wouldn't be allowed to phone them anymore.

Is that really how it works?

 

[Rob5091]

Johnson just returned from her ban, and talking about the circumstances on German TV, Vicky Rebensburg yesterday said that it's easy to miss a test because on from a certain level of success of the athlete, the testers wouldn't be allowed to phone them anymore.

Is that really how it works?

No, It's up to the athletes to inform WADA on there whereabouts. Nowadays it's all done via an app on the athlete's telephone - see https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/At_a_Glance_Whereabouts_English_Live_2021.pdf

 

[search]

No, It's up to the athletes to inform WADA on there whereabouts. Nowadays it's all done via an app on the athlete's telephone - see https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/At_a_Glance_Whereabouts_English_Live_2021.pdf

looks like WADA rules do indeed allow this, though:

“Where an Athlete has not been located despite the DCO’s reasonable efforts, and there are only five (5) minutes left within the 60-minute time slot, then as a last resort the DCO may (but does not have to) telephone the Athlete [...] to see if they are at the specified location.”

https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/defa... international standard for testing (ist).pdf (page 32)

It honestly seems a bit odd that "may but does not have to" apparently comes down to the popularity of the athlete, but I guess in most cases those 5 minutes won't be enough to still turn up anyway.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Ah, that cheeky NFL—despite already having lenient doping policies, they announced they will be lessening some of the existing penalties.
Particularly interesting re: PEDs: if there is a positive test for a banned substance the player will be allowed to continue playing if the specific substance (or perhaps the amount) is determined not to have a performance-enhancing effect. Seems that will lead to tons of appeals arguing that a drug does not enhance performance at the low level found on the test. And what about masking agents? They just don’t care.

NFL, union agree to changes to drug policies

The new policies include changes to testing procedures, fines and other discipline associated with violations of both the performance-enhancing drug policy and the policy on substances of abuse.

www.espn.com

I found this part a bit odd, wouldn't management be at least halfway curious what substance a player was popped for?

Also, teams will no longer be informed of the specific substance of abuse for which a player tested positive, only of the positive result and the resulting discipline.

 

[Sciatic]

I found this part a bit odd, wouldn't management be at least halfway curious what substance a player was popped for?

Also, teams will no longer be informed of the specific substance of abuse for which a player tested positive, only of the positive result and the resulting discipline.

I don’t think team managers want to know. And this way the player and team can more easily say it was just a bit of MJ rather than the heavy-duty horse steroids they tested positive for

 

[Sciatic]

looks like WADA rules do indeed allow this, though:

“Where an Athlete has not been located despite the DCO’s reasonable efforts, and there are only five (5) minutes left within the 60-minute time slot, then as a last resort the DCO may (but does not have to) telephone the Athlete [...] to see if they are at the specified location.”

https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/2027 international standard for testing (ist).pdf (page 32)

It honestly seems a bit odd that "may but does not have to" apparently comes down to the popularity of the athlete, but I guess in most cases those 5 minutes won't be enough to still turn up anyway.

But that part doesn’t seem to be what what Breezy ( great name for a downhiller!) or I guess Regensberg was suggesting, that testers are not allowed to call the more successful athletes at all? Or maybe there is something lost in translation?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I don’t think team managers want to know. And this way the player and team can more easily say it was just a bit of MJ rather than the heavy-duty horse steroids they tested positive for

Makes sense. Management probably couldn't care less as long as the player doesn't get injured and the dough keeps on rolling in.

 

[search]

But that part doesn’t seem to be what what Breezy ( great name for a downhiller!) or I guess Regensberg was suggesting, that testers are not allowed to call the more successful athletes at all? Or maybe there is something lost in translation?

yeah, maybe it's not what she was referring to, but it's the only rule I found which looked somehow related.

Regensburg didn't really go into detail, I think she just wanted to point out that it's more difficult to keep check of the whereabouts when you turn successful. I doubt she even knew that this is not really how things are supposed to be.

 

[Sciatic]

Thanks, makes sense.

 

[steffr222]

Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea FC) positive back in October.

 

[Rob5091]

German handball star busted and home in Obernburg raided
https://www.bild.de/sport/mehr-spor...-handball-influencer-676976b0de8d7c116225dfcf

Nils Kretschmer, who is suspected of doping, and Handballsecond division team TV Großwallstadt have parted ways. This was officially announced by the former German champion and European Cup winner from Lower Franconia on Monday. The contract, which was originally dated until 2027, has been terminated.
Kretschmer is the number 1 handball influencer in Germany with 417,000 followers on Instagram. At TV Großwallstadt, he was immediately appointed team captain after his move from Dresden in the summer. The right-hander in the backcourt was tested positive on September 29 after the game against Ludwigshafen (30:32).

On December 11, the Handball Bundesliga (HBL) provisionally suspended Kretschmer with immediate effect, and the Munich public prosecutor's office is investigating the handball professional, who had also been searched at his home in Obernburg (Miltenberg district).

Apparently testosterone was found at his home -
https://www.bild.de/sport/mehr-spor...nter-doping-verdacht-67587d9aa526ce321c47bbcd
but not the first bust this year in German handball

Only in April of this year there had been a positive doping test in German handball. Magdeburg's star goalkeeper Nikola Portner had been found to have crystal meth. However, the quantities were so small that he was acquitted by the HBL in June.

 

[Sciatic]

German handball star busted and home in Obernburg raided
https://www.bild.de/sport/mehr-spor...-handball-influencer-676976b0de8d7c116225dfcf

Apparently testosterone was found at his home -
https://www.bild.de/sport/mehr-spor...nter-doping-verdacht-67587d9aa526ce321c47bbcd
but not the first bust this year in German handball

Of course elite athletes in various sports haven't needed any extra motivation to dope. But it's interesting to consider (given how this description includes his social media count) whether trying to also be an elite influencer adds additional pressure to use PEDS. Obviously an influencer who is a top level competitor garners even more followers when they continue to be highly successful at their sport. When the athlete-influencer starts to go download they will keep some loyal followers but others will drift away. Unless they can convince their followers that their "numbers are good" and only need a few more "hard miles" until they are back on top

 

[Rob5091]

Social media and prosports are a messy combination although I can see how sponsors interest and athlete's wages can be influenced by "online followers". What wories me is if the One Cycling project gets the green light in some degree, will gambling be "incentivized"? Then, there'll be no difference between horse racing and pro-cycling (not that there's a lot now!)