What is a steroid?You will recall that there was some question about the claim that you could buy steroids on the Internet. The drug cited was androstenedione and a reader said it wasn't illegal although next day, after some research, I reported that the International Olympic Committee has put it on the banned list.Today, a regular reader Heather Williams wrote to me: Just read the note from a correspondent of yours about androstenedione, stating that it is not illegal to buy it because androstenedione is not a steroid. This is partly true, at least for the US; a major chemical supplier, Sigma, informs me that I do not need a Drug Enforcement Agency licence to buy it although I do need such a licence to buy testosterone or estrogen. However, androstenedione is in fact a steroid (by its chemical structure), and it is the immediate precursor in the biological pathway for synthesizing testosterone. So, if one were to take androstenedione, testosterone levels would go up as it is converted to testosterone. This is well-known basic physiology, and I don't quite understand the rationale for the US Drug Enforcement rules that require a licence for testosterone purchases but not for androstenedione purchases (but then again, those rules regulate marijuana much more tightly than they regulate cocaine or heroine). The inconsistency of the DEA rules in the US doesn't change the fact that the use of anabolic steroids, including androstenedione, is grounds for suspension of participants in most athletic events. Okay! If you want to get stronger and can't hack the work get some of this stuff from the Internet. But then be prepared to get rubbed out. I also received a story about the FBI targetting this Internet site (the one that is selling the steroids) but I left it on another server and you will have to wait for it. Ullrich begins his 1998 campaignFirst it was Lanzarote. Now Fuerteventura. Jan Ullrich is becoming an honorary citizen of the Canary Islands. First on November 21st, the young German rode in the eastern-most island. Starting today the last winner of the Tour will start seriously training at an island closer to the African Continent. Telekom's leader (who yesterday was elected Sportsman of the Year in Germany by a jury of 1000 journalists) has now begun his training for 1998: he has nine kilos to shed and can't waste time because when he concludes his training in January he is headed for Mallorca to contest a short race in Baleari."We are not too worried, because at this time of the year Ullrich is always 8 to 9 kilos over his ideal weight. Although we have to take the situation seriously", says Lothar Heinrich (35) who together with Andreas Schmid (31) has the responsibility of the athletic preparation for the 24 year old German champion. What will be Ullrich's approach for 1998? "Just like the 1996 and 1997 seasons, with the first priority being the Tour. For now Jan will start to go out on the bike for a minimum of 150km and a maximum of 220km. With 3 days of riding and one rest day", explains Heinrich. Like Erik Zabel, Bjarne Riis and any other high calibre rider of the nineties, Ullrich with an SRM: a device that registers all the important data. Based on the readings generated he will modify his training accordingly. The program is planned to have him in form for April, followed by a winding down period and a period to fine tune the preparation for the Tour. This year he suffered in the last days of the Tour: that won't happen in '98", announces Heinrich. Bad Behaviour at the Oceania GamesI was told today that there were many fines and a large suspension imposed on Australia track riders at the recently completed Oceania Games. I asked Cycling Australia to confirm the story today but I have heard nothing officially.Here is the gossip: News is that junior cyclist Ben Kersten was suspended for 6 months for firing a "spud" gun into the crowd at Wanganui. SA junior Jobi Dajka had a shot as well and was fined $200. Many more were fined for curfew and "team" rule infringements. Prudencio Indurain is injuredNavarran cyclist Prudencio Induráin, who next season will ride for new Team Vitalicio Seguros, has interrupted his training as a consequence of a broken left arm (radius) which happened while he played "frontenis" (probably a racquet sport similar to squash - does anyone know exactly what this game is?).Induráin lamented his injury, similar to one suffered last year, for which he was operated on last Tuesday at la Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, after injuring himself the same day. The youngest of the Induráin said that he will have to wait "a few days to see if the bone heals well and making a revision in two weeks". "It is the same fracture that I had last year and it is giving me a hard time. Regardless of anything it will delay everything a bit, although I wasn't training at intensity", affirmed Prudencio. In terms of his future, Induráin said that his next season with Seguros Vitalicio "I see it good, with a lot of motivation and waiting to show the quality of riders that we have". Cyclo CrossLotenhulle, Belgium, Cat B, December 6 1 N. Clarysse (Bel) Steenhuffel, Belgium, Cat B, December 6 1 P. Van Riet (Bel) Erpe-Mere, Belgium, Cat B, December 7 1 P. Van Riet (Bel) Falisolle, Belgium, Cat B, December 7 (Championship provinces Namur-Luxemburg) 1 H. Wuyts (Bel) 8 L. Capelle(Bel) (champion Namur-Luxemburg) Tongerlo-Bree, Belgium, Cat B, December 7 1 E. Van Bouwel De Panne, Belgium, 2nd De Panne Beach MTB Endurance, December 71. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei 2. J. Van Donink (Bel) 3. W. Janssen (Bel) 4. C. Van der Meer (Ned) Foreldorado 5. P. Van den Abeele (Bel) Proflex 6. W. Van Rompay (Bel) 7. P. Cocquyt (Bel) 8. B. Van Itterbeeck (Bel) 9. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto 10. F. Gevers (Bel) 11. Andy De Smet (Bel) Ipso Paal-Beringen, Belgium, MTB, December 71. R. Paulissen (Bel) 2. G. Werckx (Bel) .. 6. G. Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans Mount Avoca MTB Races, Victoria, AustraliaMen: 1. Matthew Wallace (Bendigo) 2. Tim Bennett (WA) 3. Craig Gordon (NSW) Women: 1. Alexandra Alty (Vic) 2. Dellys Franke (Vic) 3. Hanneke Geysen (Qld) |