Steroid users may mask testosterone use by consumption of green tea

Sportspeople become more and more sophisticated in administration of steroids. They study new methods to mask their usage of forbidden medicines. Certain athletes take time to study researchers’ statements that can help them to hide that they dope. Nowadays a way has been found: sportspeople may mask intake of testosterone with the help of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone which is produced in body naturally. Thus, it can be difficult for anti-doping agencies to determine that a sportsperson has taken testosterone. T: E ratio testing is ordinarily used by anti-doping organizations. Such tests may manifest unusual ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it is not capable to display difference between testosterone which has been produced in body naturally and that introduced into body with the help of injections, gels, etc.
 Declan Naughton and his colleagues at Kingston University ( London) have determined that green tea contains such compounds that are called “catechins”. They have ability to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme induces joining glucuronic acid to testosterone. If UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the substances that can mask application of testosterone, are contained in green and white tea. Black tea doesn’t contain such compounds.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted several experiments. They conclude that a cup of strong green tea hides usage of testosterone.
So, those athletes that apply testosterone may reduce measures of testosterone excreting in urine by consumption of green or white tea. Green or white tea is able to block excretion of testosterone, enhancing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the experts. If this process occurs, it is worthless to subject sportspersons to urine tests. Blood tests should be performed in order to determine that a person has used testosterone.
Olivier Rabin, the WADA’s expert, claims that regular checks of blood steroids will be added. Everything will be done by anti-doping agencies in order to prevent fooling of urine tests.