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This study was carried out in 40 bodybuilders voluntarily taking supraphysiological doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). Echocardiographic examination of the heart and blood analysis were performed, and concentration of AAS in urine was examined. The presence, or absence, of AAS in urine had no influence on the echocardiographic parameters of the heart, body mass, body mass index (BMI) and aldosterone level in blood plasma. It seems, therefore, that the presence of AAS in urine may confirm heart hypertrophy and overuse of AAS, while the absence of AAS in urine does not exclude the cardiological changes occurring as a result of taking the drugs. Metabolites detected in urine showed that the intake of 17?-alkyl testosterone derivatives caused higher values of left ventricular mass and BMI. However, the level of HDL cholesterol was lower in bodybuilders using only 19-nor-testosterone. Elevated level of plasma aldosterone did not differ between the two groups. As could be expected, the highest level of AAS in urine was detected in bodybuilders currently self-administering the anabolic-androgenic steroids (on cycle). The level of AAS in the urine decreased after stopping taking the drugs (off cycle). Refraining from AAS abuse for a period of 1-2 years was associated with a significant decrease in aldosterone level in the plasma. The positive correlations found between the blood plasma aldosterone, left ventricular mass and BMI lead to the conclusion that large doses of AAS taken by bodybuilders would cause extra activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1967 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) founded Medical Commission to organize and supervise fight against doping. At that time, the Commission published the first list of substances prohibited for use in sport to meet the need of anti-doping testing at the 1968 Olympic Games. The Prohibited List included stimulants, sympathomimetic amines, narcotics (narcotic analgesics), antidepressants and tranquilizers. For years the list was expanding and underwent modifications, mainly prior to successive Olympic Games. Starting from 1 January 2004, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has assumed the role of the main coordinator in fight against doping. WADA significantly modified the list of prohibited substances and methods (the Prohibited List). These modifications initiated changes, whose effects can be observed in three main areas of sport and anti-doping i.e. in: athletes, doping control laboratories, and sport entourage. In Poland, the removal some substances from the List or the addition other compounds to the basic List caused an increase of usage of pseudoephedrine and caffeine by athletes and a decrease of number of positive doping cases with cannabinoids and glucocorticosteroids. The annual modification of the Prohibited List by WADA and subsequent introduction of new examples of prohibited substances strengthened the world anti-doping system. Considering the open character of the list a regular update would be expected, especially indicating prohibited or permitted status of new substances and drugs. It would be advisable to publish, on the WADA website, some additional information regarding those substances which cause the most interpretation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine whether young female kayakers performing intense training of the upper extremities could significantly increase upper body anaerobic performance with age and training, diminishing in that way gender differences. Totally, 264 male and 195 female athletes participated in the survey. All subjects were sprint kayakers representing elite athletes for their specific age groups and undergo long lasting training, supervised by Polish Canoe Federation. They were grouped by sex and age. The subjects performed 40-s all-out exercise in upright position, by upper extremities, on modified Monark cycloergometer. Total work performed (Wtot), peak power (PP) and rate of decrease in relative peak power (PD) was measured. Lactate (LA) concentration in capillary blood was measured after 4 min of cessation of the exercise. Wtot, PP, and PD showed significant differences between men and women. In women, indices of anaerobic performance did not increased significantly beginning from the age of 19 years. In men, the development of anaerobic performance with age and training was more diverse. Rate of decrease in PD significantly increased in male and female kayakers for the groups of 13, 14 and 15 years old. PD correlated well with PP (W·kgBM-1) in male (r=0.806, p<0.001) as well as in female kayakers (r=0.722, p<0.001). Post-exercise LA concentration was significantly higher in male than in female (13.9±2.2 mmol·l-1 and 11.0±2.0, p<0.001). It was concluded that upper body anaerobic performance increased with age and training in both male and female kayakers at least up to the end of second decade of life. There are significant gender differences in relative indices of anaerobic performance despite of age and training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which reveals the number of Polish athletes who were using marijuana or hashish within the period of 1998-2004. The urine samples from Polish athletes were gathered to determine the presence of cannabinoids. The list from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on substances that were forbidden during competition were used as guidelines in the study.