Thursday, May 07, 2009

Steroids Creep into the Picture

From ESPN.com:

[...] two sources told ESPN's T.J. Quinn and Mark Fainaru-Wada that the drug used by Ramirez is HCG -- human chorionic gonadotropin. HCG is a women's fertility drug typically used by steroid users to restart their body's natural testosterone production as they come off a steroid cycle. It is similar to Clomid, the drug Bonds, Giambi and others used as clients of BALCO. [...]

A source with intimate knowledge of steroids told ESPN that a male athlete usually uses HCG after a cycle of steroids because steroids often shut down the testosterone-making ability of the testicles. HCG restores their capacity to make testosterone. The source said that some males may use HCG in lieu of steroids also. HCG by itself can provide a substantial boost in the body's own testosterone, and this may provide some performance-enhancement benefits.

And from an updated story at Yahoo! Sports:

Two sources said Ramirez tested positive for a gonadotropin. Major League baseball's list of banned substances includes the gonadotropins LH and HCG, which are most commonly used by women as fertility drugs. They also can be used to trigger testosterone production. Testosterone is depleted by steroid use, which can cause sexual dysfunction.

"Testosterone and similar drugs are effective for erectile dysfunction in that they jazz up your sex drive, said Charles Yesalis, a professor at Penn State who has testified before Congress on issues of performance-enhancing drugs. "But far more clinicians accept that affect with Viagra and Cialis. It's hard for me to understand if it was erectile dysfunction why they would use it."

12 comments:

QuadSevens said...

This is not looking good.

On the plus side, it he is using steroids, it might mean that getting him signed for a second year could be much cheaper since nobody else will be interested.

Sauerkraut said...

If hes passed 15 prior drug test, then just perhaps he just couldnt get it up.

NicJ said...

Q7 I had the same thought.

At least he will pick up his option for next year.

patm14 said...

Just saw Plaschke's interview on Sportscenter,talk about a bitter, bitter man. He's ready to burn the bridges before we know exactly what happened.

Orel said...

But he needs a "take"!

Unknown said...

Why didn't Plachke get bought out and Adande stay?

Anyway, if Manny took steroids, why didn't he test positive?

Fred's Brim said...

this whole thing makes me really sad. i feel like i went on a honeymoon to Cancun and found out my wife boned the bouncer at Senor Frogs

Dusto_Magnifico said...

but, was the bouncer bone worthy?

you gotta ask yourself the important questions...

that made no sence.

sorry...

Fred's Brim said...

hehe if i could get my wife to pay me $7mil, i might be made whole

Anonymous said...

You would have to be a goddamned moron to think hCG and Clomid act the same way. What an idiot.

God I hate the media.

Anonymous said...

Similar to Clomid. LOL.

Yes, one simulates LH and one attaches to estrogen receptors, but hey, what the fuck, let's just say they do the same thing.

You stupid fuck.

Fred's Brim said...

sadly it seems somehow better that it would be steroids as opposed to a floppy johnson. the stigma of that seems much worse than being called a cheater