New sophisticated ways of cheating in steroid use

Athletes become more and more sophisticated in intake of steroids. They find out new ways to mask their intake of prohibited preparations. Several sportspersons take time to study experts’ statements that may help them to hide that they dope. Nowadays a method has been discovered: sportspeople may mask usage of testosterone with the help of green tea.
Testosterone represents a hormone that is secreted in body naturally. So, it can be difficult for anti-doping agencies to determine that an athlete has taken testosterone. T: E ratio testing is commonly used by anti-doping agencies. Such tests may demonstrate unusual ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in urine. But it doesn’t have ability to display difference between testosterone which has been secreted in body naturally and that introduced into body with the help of injections, gels, etc.
 Declan Naughton and his colleagues at Kingston University ( London) have determined that green tea contains such substances which are called “catechins”. They have ability to inhibit the enzyme UGT2B17. This enzyme induces joining glucuronic acid to testosterone. If UGT2B17 is inhibited, less testosterone glucoronide is excreted in urine.  
Catechins, the compounds which may mask application of testosterone, are in green and white tea. Black tea doesn’t have such substances.
Naughton and his colleagues have conducted several experiments. They conclude that a cup of strong green tea mask application of testosterone.
Thus, those sportspersons that administer testosterone can decrease amounts of testosterone which are excreted in urine by drinking of green or white tea. Green or white tea is able to block excretion of testosterone, increasing circulating levels of this hormone.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was informed about the discovering by the scientists. If this process occurs, it means that it is not worthy to subject athletes to urine tests. Blood tests should be performed for detection of testosterone use.
Olivier Rabin, the WADA’s specialist, claims that regular checks of blood steroids will be added. Everything will be done by anti-doping organizations in order to avoid fooling of urine tests.