Reports released by the French Anti-Doping Agency confirms strains of steroids in hair samples taken from 138 athletes. 22 of them were tested positive. Sports officials sounded the alarm that use of performance enhancing drugs had permeated even their stringent measures of regulating the use of the drug. Dr. Pierre Rochcongar said he was shocked that they were only conducting a survey that esulted to such astounding numbers. He also said there are no conclusive findings that steroids can speed up recovery of muscles and bones that have been subject to injury.
From AFP:
“I am puzzled by these abnormal results,” Rochcongar told AFP. “As doctors we have been trying to do things correctly and work on prevention and yet these figures speak for themselves.”
He added that the full extent of the effects of the steroids and on boosting an athlete’s recuperative powers still had to be ascertained.
Of the 22 positive cases in question unearthed by the study the highest number from any one sport, seven, came from samples emanating from 32 tests carried out on footballers’, equivalent to 21.8 percent.
“I shall be approaching the AFLD to obtain details, while respecting medical ethics on privacy, to understand how this could occur and to put in place a policy of information and prevention,” Rochcongar said, adding that some 1,000 footballers undergo full tests on their overall fitness twice yearly.
Officials from major sports organizations are alerted of the existence of steroid use among its athletes. However, no disciplinary action should be meted out just yet. Rather than turn into another Alex Rodriguez controversy, they were careful to protect the confidentiality of the results and of those who were tested. Traces DHEA or Dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone were detected in the samples. US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of DHEA as a food supplement but considers testosterone as an illegal substance. DHEA in France is a prescription drug and is a regulated substance.
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