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All the fancy drugs
THG, or tetrahydrogestrinone, is the "new designer steroid. It has its chemical structure tweaked to avoid detection by standard tests. The origins of THG are unknown. it is believed to be a chemically designed drug. It would share properties similar to anabolic steroids.
Tetrahydrogestrinone or THG: This is the "new designer steroid. It has its chemical structure tweaked to avoid detection by standard tests. The origins of THG are unknown. it is believed to be a chemically designed drug. It would share properties similar to anabolic steroids.
Human Growth Hormone or HGH: HGH is produced by the pituitary gland. It governs the growth of those body tissues that can grow. Power athletes, such as sprinters and weight lifters, are most likely to use HGH, believing it will increase muscle growth (like steroids do) and decrease fat. But the drug has not been shown to have the desired results. Also, HGH is often used along with steroids on the assumption that if one drug is good, two must be a lot better.
Anabolic steroids: They are drugs that are usually synthesised from the male reproduction hormone testoterone. They have been banned by many sports because of their danger to health. Nandrolone the steroid famously abused by the likes of Merlene Ottey, Linford Christie, Doug Walker, is an anabolic steroid.
Erythroprotein or EPO: This is used to boost the body's oxygen-transmitting capability. Before the widespread use of growth hormones, one of the most tricky to uncover was erythropoietin, or EPO. A compound produced by the kidneys, EPO increases the number of red blood cells, boosting oxygen to the muscles and increasing their power by about 20 per cent. Intensive forensic work resulted in an EPO detection test just in time for Sydney 2000. Testers thought they had stopped its use, but insiders say some athletes and their minders have found ways to conceal it. Most used in cycling.
IGF-1L: This drug is fast becoming the talk of the locker rooms. Triggered by the same genes that release human growth hormone, it is a compound that promotes muscle growth and repair. IGF-1 first appeared in the athletics spotlight at Sydney. It was found in the possession of a Chinese swimmer who had suddenly splashed from nowhere into the medal league.
And the latest, Gene doping: China's history of state-endorsed doping has fuelled suspicions that Beijing will become the "Genetic Engineering Games". Astonishing performances by teenage athletes at recent Chinese national games have led scientists to speculate, off the record, that it is already happening.
How would genetic engineering of athletes be done? There are two principal methods, Lynn says. One is to take a blood sample and remove, genetically modify and replace the white blood cells. The other is to inject the modified DNA directly into the muscles.
In both cases, the new genes would first be inserted into a weakened virus. Viruses travel efficiently around the body, so they could taxi the genetic material to its biological target. Once in the bloodstream or muscle tissue, the genes would keep producing the active proteins that affect performance.
In the new scenario, instead of injecting EPO several times a week, athletes could have an EPO gene inserted. Bio-tech companies looking into genetic treatments for kidney disease and anaemia are already running animal experiments.
