Beating the Testosterone Doping Test

According to a study by Swedish researchers, a common genetic deficiency might make it possible for some people to beat the standard testosterone doping test, even if they had been doping with the hormone. The researchers injected 55 male volunteers with testosterone and then tested them with the standard urine test for testosterone doping. More than 40% of all subjects with the genetic deficiency tested negative for testosterone doping over a 15-day testing period.

Two-thirds of the Asian population and about 10% of all Caucasians are deficient in the gene in question. The World Anti-Doping Agency is concerned, but it appears that there is little that they can do about it at this time. Genetic tests would reveal which athletes could beat the testosterone doping test, but genetic testing is not part of the standard anti-doping test for Olympic athletes. Individuals with the genetic deficiency may be able to use testosterone and get away with it, at least until the rules change.