Possible Testosterone Explanation

The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on the Urinary Testosterone /
Epitestosterone Ratio


By Dr Simon Davis B.Sc., Ph.D.


Summary


Intoxicating beverages contain a number of different forms of alcohol,
the major constituent of which is ethanol. When a beverage is consumed
the ethanol content passes through the stomach wall and digestive tract
into the blood stream. Once the ethanol enters circulation it begins
to alter the bodies' biochemistry. One such reaction is to
differentially increase the rates of testosterone (T) and
epitestosterone (E) metabolism. The overall effect of this reaction is
to increase the ratio of T to E excreted in the urine.


It has been reported that ethanol consumption can increase urinary T/E
ratios by 30% - 277% in healthy individuals. Observed changes in
plasma T/E ratios can occur with the consumption of less than 2 pints
of lager. The ingestion of ethanol by an individual will increase the
T/E ratio observed in a urine sample.


It follows that if the effect of ethanol on T/E ratios is calculated
relative to urinary E concentrations, it can be seen that increases in
the ratio are exponential as E concentrations decrease. Individuals
with naturally low E concentrations could, therefore, experience
increases in T/E ratios of ? 940% greater than increases experienced in
an individual with normal E concentrations. Calculations estimate
that in individuals with low urinary E concentration, ratios of 17 to 1
or higher could have resulted from ethanol consumption without any
administration of exogenous T.


The current T/E ratio test as performed by Kings College Laboratory and
approved by the UK Sports, the IWF and IOC cannot discriminate between
a 13 to 1 T/E ratio resulting from ethanol ingestion or a 13 to 1 ratio
resulting from endogenous T administration.

I do recall some mention of beer after (the disatrous) stage 16......

Well he did say that he had beer before stage 18

I just heard an interview on ESPN with a guy who explained that his RATIO of testosterone to epitestosterone is elevated, but his overall level of test. is LOWER than normal. NOT what you would expect in someone who is doping.

ESPN has an interview with Greg Lemond at 4, but I've got to actually work then. :(

We're on the same list! I just posted that article in the other thread.

Great minds....

My understanding of the science behind this is that epitestosterone (type that ten times fast) elevates when there isn't enough testosterone in the body and lowers when there's too much. So if his T is low and his E is also low, there's something wrong there. Hmmm.

I'm keeping the faith, even though I've stated elsewhere on this forum that I think just about everyone in the pro peloton dopes/supplements. I love Floyd and sure hope the B sample proves this wrong (or at least inconclusive).

But even if the B sample is negative or inconclusive - unless there's some real medical reason behind this, like his body produces more naturally, etc, (which should have come up in past tests) everyone will always wonder and that is just terrible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maillotpois

But even if the B sample is negative or inconclusive - unless there's some real medical reason behind this, like his body produces more naturally, etc, (which should have come up in past tests) everyone will always wonder and that is just terrible.

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I think everyone already wonders (about everyone, not just Floyd). If the B is neg or incon, it means there could possibly be a mistake in the way the A sample was handled, stored, or the test administered.

You're right - I wonder about everyone - the riders, the labs, the coaches, the press. And I know these guys are tested all the time, so statistically their chances of having an incorrect test results are higher than mine. But think about it - have you EVER had a lab mess up one of your tests? I've had a lot of blood taken out and tested recently, and I know you've had the same batteries of tests that I have - and even more probably. Ever had a blood/urine test result reversed or found to have been "wrong"? Are their tests really that much more complicated or have smaller margins of error?

not to mention; what does 70 waterbottles of water in one day do to your blood chemistry????

Remember about half went on his head.

Even if 2/3 went over his head, the effect of that much water during a high stress situation like that could certainly affect the relative readings on a test.
I mean this is the extreme edge of human physical performane!

And yes, I've known mistakes to be made.

Has he issued a statement denying it?

He is going to hold a telephone press conference any minute.....the more I hear, the more I believe he's innocent.