Abstract des Autors

Administration of either synthetic anabolic steroids or of testosterone to adult males causes suppression of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and consequently also of the testicular secretion of testosterone. Cessation of treatment before competition in order to avoid detection is likely to result in the individual competing while the endogenous testosterone is still suppressed. The athlete might then be in a worse competitive position than if he had not taken steroids. The secretion of natural testosterone could be stimulated by the injection of LH but this hormone is not available as a pharmaceutical preparation. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is however readily available and has an action in stimulating the secretion of testosterone by the testis identical to that of LH. Three normal men given a single injection of testosterone heptanoate (250 mg) showed a fourfold increase in their peak plasma testosterone concentration. The ratios of the concentrations of testosterone:epitestosterone and of testosterone:LH in the urine rose to markedly abnormal levels with a peak 5-7 days after injection. By day 15 both ratios were back to normal but the plasma testosterone concentrations were well below the preinjection level. Administration of HCG (5000 i.u.) on day 15 gave a 2-3 fold increase in plasma testosterone concentration but the testosterone:epitestosterone ratio in the urine remained within normal limits. In this and in subsequent studies the presence of HCG in the urine was easily detected for as long a period as the concentration of testosterone in the plasma was elevated. Some commercially available HCG assay kits have been evaluated for their suitability for screening athletes urine. Three of these kits were used in 1987 to test 740 urines from sporting events and 21 gave unequivocal evidence of HCG misuse. Verf.-Referat