Genetic fluke allows athletes to evade doping test: study

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — A genetic variant common among East Asians masks the use of performance-enhancing testosterone prohibited in top-level sports competition, according to a new study.

Athletes with a slightly different expression of the same gene, by contrast, run the risk of being falsely accused of doping, said the study.

The standard test in professional and amateur sports for uncovering illicit testosterone use measures the ratio of two chemicals in the urine.

The level of testosterone glucuronide (TG), a by-product of testosterone in the body, is compared to the level of epitestosterone glucuronide (EG), which remains constant even when the power-boosting hormone is injected into the blood stream.

Any ratio above four-to-one is seen as suspect,...