High Testosterone Levels Sometimes Hides Steroid Use

Tour DeFrance Winner Tests Under Scrutiny

July 27, 2006

What does it mean when an athlete tests positive for abnormal levels of epitestosterone?

Epitestosterone is a biological form of testosterone and would not enhance an athletes performance. It also does not have any serious side effects. However, doctors say athletes inject it for a very specific reason.

"The only reason I can think of that an athlete would inject epitestosterone would be for the purposes of hiding the use of steroids," said Dr. David Rubenstein, the head of sports medicine for Lankenau Hospital.

"Tests for testosterone or for steroids typically use a ratio testosterone divided by epitestosterone, so if an athlete were to inject epitestosterone, he could artificially change that number and hide the use of testosterone," Rubenstein said.

Rubenstein is also the athletic director for the Philadelphia Soul. He said that because of the newer designer drugs, some athletes wrongly believe that are capable of escaping detection. But, Rubenstein said, the T/E ratio test is a very good way to know if an athlete is trying to hide steroid use.

The use of steroids can lead to weight gain, heart problems, liver disease and low sperm count. Steroids can also cause mood changes and aggressive behavior.