Widespread use of the controversial dietary supplement marketed as a legal alternative to anabolic steroids, creatine, has been revealed by a shocking survey of athletes in Britain.

In a poll of elite men and women athletes conducted by The Independent newspaper, nearly 57 percent said they had taken creatine.

From Independent.ie:

Creatine is a substance found naturally in the body and in foods such as meat and fish. Sold legally over the counter in synthetic form as an amino acid powder, it helps build muscle and speeds recovery from training.

Among those who have used creatine and hailed its benefits are members of the England national soccer team, league and FA Cup double winners Arsenal, and athletics stars Linford Christie , Colin Jackson and Sally Gunnell.

But some experts believe the substance could have adverse long-term health effects.

Some doctors suggest it causes kidney damage, while others link it with shorter term problems such as muscle cramping and dehydration.

The figure was a startling 100 percent among weightlifters and rugby league players.

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The Barcelona coach, Josep Guardiola, has been cleared by a sports anti-doping tribunal from drug charges.

Anti-doping tribunal of CONI rejected the appeal after prosecuting office of the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) reopened the case.

From Espnstar.com:

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has been finally cleared by a sports anti-doping tribunal from drug charges.

The case started when Guardiola was a Brescia player in the Serie A in 2001.

Guardiola was then tested positive for nandrolone, a performance-enhancing drug, in November 2001 and was suspended for four months.

He denied doping and appealed the sentence. He was then cleared in 2007 by the Italian football federation (FIGC).

The case dates back to 2001 when the coach of Barcelona team was a Brescia player in the Serie A.

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A law calling for enhanced surveillance of human growth hormone (HGH) in the middle growing evidence that the substance is much abused was approved unanimously by the New Jersey Assembly committee.

Growth hormone deficiency affects one of every 100,000 American adults annually, as per the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

From NJ.com:

“We will know whether it’s an individual patient doctor shopping or if it’s a physician who’s dealing,” Conaway told The Star-Ledger. “We’d be able to monitor both ends of the problem.”

The bill would add HGH to the list of drugs within the state’s prescription monitoring program. It follows a Star-Ledger series that revealed wide use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone among hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters in New Jersey.

The Star-Ledger found in most cases that the officers used their state-funded health benefits to foot the bill for substances, with the high cost of HGH running up a tab in the millions of dollars.

Health and Senior Services Committee Chairman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) said the bill will help to counteract the abuse of HGH by patients and doctors.

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Mohammad Asif, a fast bowler player from Pakistan, has accused eye drops after being accused of using performance enhancing drugs during the inaugral successful Indian Premier League (IPL).

London-based medical expert Michael Graham told Times Now, “Asif has pleaded to using Keratyl eye drops for a medical eye condition. He had an inflammatory eye condition which was impeding his cricket.”

From Espnstar.com:

He added: “He could not see very well with his left eye and as a consequence of that he required specialised ophthalmic opinion in Pakistan and he had that treatment.

“And, as was known to Asif, it (Keratyl) contained a prohibited substance nandrolone.

“Sadly this showed up in his urine.”

The 26-year-old was banned from all forms of cricket by the Pakistan Cricket Board immediately after the adverse test was made public in July.

Asif had requested for his ‘B’ sample to be tested which also returned a positive result for the drug.

He then appeared before the tribunal on October 11, but the adjudicating members adjourned that meeting without deciding on a verdict and scheduled a second meeting for November 29.

The player was summoned to appear before a committee of medicines to make a statement on use of the banned substance nandrolone during the inaugural IPL, Asif said he had used eye drops that elevated levels of nandrolone in his system.

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Linford Christie, Olympic gold medalist, will address the Parliament’s committee investigating the performance enhancing drugs.

Two scholars, Roger Maughan, of Loughborough University, and Julian Savulescu of Oxford, will also address the committee.

From Guardian.co.uk:

MPs say the inquiry focuses on the opportunities and problems presented by the increasing availability of technologies capable of enhancing sporting performance, including use of performance enhancing drugs, gene doping and technological devices.

The inquiry will be launched next month with a seminar, which will be addressed by Mr Christie, 100m gold medallist in 1992 who later tested positive for nandrolone and was banned for two years.

He is now a coach who runs his own consultancy and marketing agency, which has declined to comment on his appearance at the Commons.

“They wanted him to be the person who did it [the address]. I don’t think he has much to say about it in advance,” said a spokeswoman.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee is carrying out the study of human enhancement technologies in sport in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics.

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The case in which the state and professional wrestler, Jeff Hardy, has been accused has been delayed until Feb. 16 after Assistant District Attorney Warren McSweeney said Senior Resident Judge James M. Webb that the State requires more time.

This is the second postponement of the case this year. Hardy’s lawyer noted that he believed the two sides were close to an agreement when he informed the court that he expected a decision this month.

From Thepilot.com:

Moore County deputy sheriffs arrested the world champion wrestler in September 2009 after a search of his home in Cameron discovered quantities of illegal drugs, including prescription Vicodin and Soma, a quantity of anabolic steroids, along with a small amount of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

At the time, Hardy was charged with felony trafficking in opium, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a schedule III controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. The Moore County grand jury later indicted Hardy.

The cases against Hardy have been continued a number of times. Hardy has remained free on bail pending his day in court.

Jeff Hardy, 32, and his brother, Matt, wrestling as the Hardy Boyz, were World Wrestling Entertainment World Tag Team Champions on six occassions.

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According to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Ivan Basso has admitted being involved in the Operation Puerto doping scandal.

A statement on CONI’s website said, “The office of the anti-doping power of attorney has listened today to Ivan Basso and he has widely admitted his own responsibilities relative to Operation Puerto and has supplied the maximum collaboration in order to clear up the relative facts of his involvement.”

From Independent.ie:

CONI, which acts as Italy’s anti-doping body, said Basso had made an impromptu appearance to the authorities on Monday to explain his position. He had appeared before a CONI doping hearing last Wednesday which was adjourned with no new date fixed.

The Italian rider has been accused of violating article 2.2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code concerning “use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.”

“We are calm and aware we have done the right thing,” Basso’s lawyer Massimo Martelli was quoted as saying on the Gazzetta dello Sport website.

“If Ivan has done what he has done it is because he loves his sport. We looked each other in the eyes and we said to each other that it was a case of lifting this weight off our backs, from our conscience.”

The Giro D’Italia champion could now face a two-year ban though it is believed that his offer to help the authorities may lead to leniency.

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