Green tea may mask testosterone use

Athletes become more and more sophisticated in intake of steroids. They study new methods to mask their administration of prohibited preparations. Several athletes spend time studying scientists’ statements that can help them to hide that they dope. Nowadays a way has been discovered: sportspeople can mask administration of testosterone by drinking of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone which is produced in body naturally. Thus, it may be difficult for anti-doping organizations to determine that an athlete has administered testosterone. T: E ratio testing is ordinarily used by anti-doping organizations. Such tests can manifest uncommon ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it is not capable to display difference between testosterone that has been secreted in body naturally and that introduced into body with the help of injections, creams, etc.
 Declan Naughton and his colleagues at Kingston University ( London) have found that green tea has such substances which are called “catechins”. They can inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme promotes joining glucuronic acid to testosterone. In case UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the substances that have ability to mask testosterone use, are in green and white tea. Black tea lacks such compounds.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted some experiments. They claim that a cup of strong green tea hides intake of testosterone.
So, those sportspersons who use testosterone can reduce quantities of testosterone which are excreted in urine by consumption of green or white tea. Green or white tea is able to block excretion of testosterone, increasing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the experts. If this process occurs, it means that it is not worthy to subject sportspersons to urine tests. Blood tests must be performed for detection of testosterone use.
Olivier Rabin, the WADA’s scientist, affirms that regular checks of blood steroids will be added. Everything will be done by anti-doping agencies in order to avoid fooling of urine tests.