The negative effect of green tea on the diagnosis of doping in athletes

The negative effect of green tea on the diagnosis of doping in athletes

British researchers believe that green tea contains compounds that stop the activity of the enzyme testosterone detection in doping tests.

The results of an experiment conducted by researchers at Kingston University show that green tea can prevent the accurate detection of testosterone levels in blood samples.

This study has not been comprehensive and researchers are skeptical about the similar effect of green tea on all people. However, the results of this test have been met with a reaction from the anti-doping authorities of the London Olympics.

Green tea, like white tea, contains catechin polyphenols that appear to stop the activity of the enzyme that detects testosterone levels, said Deklan Nugton, a Kingston University researcher whose findings are published in the journal Steroids. ; However, there is no reason to think that green tea is the only food in the world that has this property.

During the study, researchers added catechins to green and white tea for testosterone and examined testosterone levels in the body. Experimental results show that green tea reduces testosterone levels in the blood by 30%.

It is very surprising that a common substance like tea can affect steroid levels, but careful testing is needed to prove this, said Oliver Robin, scientific director of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Researchers say more research is needed to determine the effects of green tea on doping tests, and that other beverages and foods may have a similar effect to hiding testosterone levels.

Testosterone levels in doping athletes are 200 to 300 percent higher than normal.