Brazilian bobsledder banned

[dr.strangelove]

I know there is another lame brazilian joke here somewhere.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/bobsled/5106018/detail.html?qs=pt=espn

Brazilian bobsledder booted over nandrolone

CESANA, Italy (Reuters) -- Brazil has sent bobsledder Armando dos Santos home from the Winter Olympics after he failed a test for the banned substance nandrolone.

The 24-year-old tested positive last month, the Brazilian Olympic Committee said on its website Tuesday. Dos Santos, from Sao Paulo, had been due to compete in the four-man bobsleigh starting on Feb. 24.

"The preventative doping control examination carried out on athlete Armando dos Santos ... showed an adverse positive result, with the presence of nandrolone, a substance considered prohibited by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)," the Brazilian statement said.

"In accordance with the referred result given this Monday by the laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro ... Brazilian Chef de Mission at the Turin Olympic Games, Edson Menezes, released the athlete from the Brazilian team in Turin.

"He will immediately return to Brazil."

Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. Steroids are used to increase muscle mass and strength.

[flvegan]

1. Nandrolone?!

For bobsledding? Holy crap.

[dr.strangelove]

2. nandrolone is controversial

because illegal levels can be reached by eating significant amounts of meat from steroid fed beef. A few runners, including former british champ lynford christie, were banned and their bans were overturned because the higher than average levels were naturally explained. however, some athletes have tested at 1000 times the highest natural level possible, which probably indicates doping, not just eating a t-bone. i don't know the story here, but i thought the brazilian reference was funny. (sorry about the caps but i am on the blackberry and its too hard to do caps and type fast).

[flvegan]

3. I would think, by now, they've set certain levels of allowance.

I'd like to see the test results (amounts v. allowable limits), and I'd hope they'd take that into consideration before removing an athlete from competition.

[dr.strangelove]

8. They have a very quick appeal process

They can appeal and get a prelim hearing within a few hours. I don;t know the standards or burdens for this prelim appeal, but the IOC has a tribunal on site for these things.

This is a pretty new issue. As the dopers have gotten better, testing is always a little behind.

[Beer Snob-50]

4. I didn't think there were that many bobsledders in the world

how much is a brazillian??

[edbermac]

5. Who needs steroid drugs to STEER a fucking bobsled???

:wtf:

[Jimbo S]

6. I would think one would need the strength

1. to get a good push at the start.

2. to steer in spite of multi-g forces at the turns.

[dr.strangelove]

9. I agree, its mostly for the start

Many bobsledders say the start is 90% of the race. That is all about strength, speed and acceleration. The steroids would help the start a great deal.

[flvegan]

7. It would appear that he also competes in the "hammer throw"

so IF he's doping, maybe it's for that.