Niveis de Testosterona de Jon Jones elevados?
Enviado: 08 Jan 2015 14:02
Este artigo está a circular no Redditt!
December 4th, 2014
Jones takes a random out-of-competition drug test, which is performed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). They take not one but two tests because the first test seems ”watery”.
Both tests are positive for cocaine metabolites.
But cocaine may not be the most newsworthy detail of Jones’ drug test results, even though the UFC makes it look as such. His testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio (commonly referred to as “T:E ratio”) and testosterone levels raise some questions.
Jones’ T:E ratio is abnormally low in the first test: 0.29:1. An average T:E ratio is 1:1 although averages differ based on, for example, ethnic background. T:E ratio tells us how much testosterone he has in his body compared to the amount of epitestosterone – it doesn’t, however, tell us anything about his actual testosterone levels.
Having such a low T:E ratio could indicate either a health problem or cycling off from testosterone usage. When you take synthetic testosterone, your body stops producing its own testosterone. Once you stop taking synthetic testosterone, it can take from weeks to months – depending on the case – for your testosterone production to re-start, which then leads to abnormally low testosterone levels. So with that said…
The non-watery test shows testosterone levels at 1.8 ng/ml – a more common way of putting it is 180 ng/dl while normal for an average adult is between 350 ng/dl and 1000 ng/dl. Since we’re talking about one of the top athletes in the sport, it’s highly unlikely that his testosterone levels would be lower than average, or as in this case, almost 50% below what’s considered the minimal normal amount.
It’s always interesting to see top-level athletes have lower than average values. It’s entirely possible, of course, but interesting.
December 18th, 2014
Jones takes another test which later comes back clean of cocaine metabolites.
Interestingly, the executive director of the NSAC, Bob Bennett, now claims Jones was never tested for recreational drugs on December 18th, claiming how a test for recreational drugs was never supposed to be a part of an out-of-competition test. In a picture of the December 18th drug test (published by Kevin Iole on Twitter), it clearly shows that Jones was tested for narcotics.
This time, Jones’ T:E ratio has sunk even lower than in the December 4th test: 0.19:1. This an abnormally low value and a relatively significant change from previous results as well. It should be noted, though, that urine tests aren’t the most reliable when it comes to testosterone testing (they need blood for more accurate results) so there’s going to be some variation.
But curiously, tests show that testosterone and epitestosterone levels have increased quite significantly. Two weeks after the first test, his results now show 4.9 ng/ml or 490 ng/dl for testosterone. Not abnormally high, but 2.7 times his previous result.
Tests show that epitestosterone levels have gone from 6.1 ng/ml to 27 ng/ml which is 4.4 times more than in the previous test. (With athletes, an increase in epitestorone levels is a possible sign of attempt to hide rising testosterone levels, which would keep the T:E ratio within allowable limits).
Why has the NSAC so far failed to further study these abnormal testosterone and epitestosterone results? The NSAC’s threshold ratio is 6:1, meaning if you have a ridiculous amount of testosterone compared to epitestosterone – like in the case of Alistair Overeem (14:1) and Chael Sonnen (16.9:1) – you’ll get caught. But why aren’t they testing for abnormally low results as well? Even though most MMA news sites are still focused on the cocaine storyline, hopefully the NSAC looks into taking Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) tests on the backup samples. This test should be able to detect synthetic testosterone. CIR tests cost more and are usually performed only when a positive test has been challenged.
Twitter user lukeuidswords made an interesting observation. Jones uploaded an Instagram video around 18th of December which shows blood samples being taken from him. Since we’ve only seen results for urine tests, what happened to the blood samples?
December 23rd, 2014.
The NSAC gets the results of the first test back and, as mentioned, finds the test positive for cocaine metabolites, known as Benzoylecgonine.
Interestingly, Jon Jones, the person being tested, doesn’t find out about the results at this point. He’s only notified two days after the fight, and not by the NSAC who performed the tests, but the UFC.
Technically, Jones violates no rules since it was an out-of-competition test and recreational drugs aren’t prohibited out-of-competition. The definition for in-competition is 12 hours before the fight or after the fight – an interesting time window, not only because the weigh-ins happen more than 24 hours before the fight – and everything not considered in-competition is considered out-of-competition.
Side Note: A prescription drug called Esterom includes Benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolites) and is used to relieve muscle pain. Theoretically, one can be on Esterom but it wouldn’t be a medically valid explanation due to Esterom being illegal in the US and not approved by the FDA. I don’t know if there are more drugs like Esterom, and this piece of information likely has nothing to do with this case.
January 3rd, 2014.
Fight night. Both Jones and Cormier take urine tests before and after the fight. The results haven’t come out yet.
January 5th/6th, 2014.
The UFC notifies Jones of the failed test. Why were the UFC notified of the results before Jon Jones, especially since allegedly no rules were violated? How is it the UFC’s business what Jon Jones has used if he violates no rules, and why do they deserve to know about it before the person being tested? Dana White appeared on UFC Tonight and confirmed they (the UFC) were aware of the drug results before the fight took place.
The results only came out due to a reporter requesting access to them (they’re public records) . Would this story have come out if it wasn’t for that reporter? Would the results have stayed ”hidden” and never been announced?
It’s important to note that the more shows the UFC puts on in Nevada, the better it is for the NSAC. To my understanding, they get compensated based on how well an event performs. If they’re being too strict in any way, the UFC could, in theory, look at other venues for their fights. Furthermore, one of the owners of the UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta, was a commissioner for the NSAC before getting involved with the UFC, and Marc Ratner, the current Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the UFC, was previously the Executive Director of the NSAC.
The first quarter of the year is an important one for the UFC as their credit rating was downgraded at the end of 2014. They’ve just announced a huge sponsorship deal with Reebok. One could assume that canceling the fight a couple of weeks before it happens – with little time to find a suitable replacement – might be disastrous, considering all the hype and build-up that involved in the fight.
According to his statement, Jones checks into a drug rehab facility after the fight. No discipline from the UFC even though Jones seems to have violated their Code of Conduct.
Some reporters have stated the NSAC are unable to punish Jon Jones for a positive out-of-competition recreational drug test. What about NRS 467.157 / Revocation of License which, to my understanding, basically allows them to discipline him for any ”sufficient” reason? Then again, would it be right to discipline him now, considering they knew about the results well before the fight took place?
December 4th, 2014
Jones takes a random out-of-competition drug test, which is performed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). They take not one but two tests because the first test seems ”watery”.
Both tests are positive for cocaine metabolites.
But cocaine may not be the most newsworthy detail of Jones’ drug test results, even though the UFC makes it look as such. His testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio (commonly referred to as “T:E ratio”) and testosterone levels raise some questions.
Jones’ T:E ratio is abnormally low in the first test: 0.29:1. An average T:E ratio is 1:1 although averages differ based on, for example, ethnic background. T:E ratio tells us how much testosterone he has in his body compared to the amount of epitestosterone – it doesn’t, however, tell us anything about his actual testosterone levels.
Having such a low T:E ratio could indicate either a health problem or cycling off from testosterone usage. When you take synthetic testosterone, your body stops producing its own testosterone. Once you stop taking synthetic testosterone, it can take from weeks to months – depending on the case – for your testosterone production to re-start, which then leads to abnormally low testosterone levels. So with that said…
The non-watery test shows testosterone levels at 1.8 ng/ml – a more common way of putting it is 180 ng/dl while normal for an average adult is between 350 ng/dl and 1000 ng/dl. Since we’re talking about one of the top athletes in the sport, it’s highly unlikely that his testosterone levels would be lower than average, or as in this case, almost 50% below what’s considered the minimal normal amount.
It’s always interesting to see top-level athletes have lower than average values. It’s entirely possible, of course, but interesting.
December 18th, 2014
Jones takes another test which later comes back clean of cocaine metabolites.
Interestingly, the executive director of the NSAC, Bob Bennett, now claims Jones was never tested for recreational drugs on December 18th, claiming how a test for recreational drugs was never supposed to be a part of an out-of-competition test. In a picture of the December 18th drug test (published by Kevin Iole on Twitter), it clearly shows that Jones was tested for narcotics.
This time, Jones’ T:E ratio has sunk even lower than in the December 4th test: 0.19:1. This an abnormally low value and a relatively significant change from previous results as well. It should be noted, though, that urine tests aren’t the most reliable when it comes to testosterone testing (they need blood for more accurate results) so there’s going to be some variation.
But curiously, tests show that testosterone and epitestosterone levels have increased quite significantly. Two weeks after the first test, his results now show 4.9 ng/ml or 490 ng/dl for testosterone. Not abnormally high, but 2.7 times his previous result.
Tests show that epitestosterone levels have gone from 6.1 ng/ml to 27 ng/ml which is 4.4 times more than in the previous test. (With athletes, an increase in epitestorone levels is a possible sign of attempt to hide rising testosterone levels, which would keep the T:E ratio within allowable limits).
Why has the NSAC so far failed to further study these abnormal testosterone and epitestosterone results? The NSAC’s threshold ratio is 6:1, meaning if you have a ridiculous amount of testosterone compared to epitestosterone – like in the case of Alistair Overeem (14:1) and Chael Sonnen (16.9:1) – you’ll get caught. But why aren’t they testing for abnormally low results as well? Even though most MMA news sites are still focused on the cocaine storyline, hopefully the NSAC looks into taking Carbon Isotope Ratio (CIR) tests on the backup samples. This test should be able to detect synthetic testosterone. CIR tests cost more and are usually performed only when a positive test has been challenged.
Twitter user lukeuidswords made an interesting observation. Jones uploaded an Instagram video around 18th of December which shows blood samples being taken from him. Since we’ve only seen results for urine tests, what happened to the blood samples?
December 23rd, 2014.
The NSAC gets the results of the first test back and, as mentioned, finds the test positive for cocaine metabolites, known as Benzoylecgonine.
Interestingly, Jon Jones, the person being tested, doesn’t find out about the results at this point. He’s only notified two days after the fight, and not by the NSAC who performed the tests, but the UFC.
Technically, Jones violates no rules since it was an out-of-competition test and recreational drugs aren’t prohibited out-of-competition. The definition for in-competition is 12 hours before the fight or after the fight – an interesting time window, not only because the weigh-ins happen more than 24 hours before the fight – and everything not considered in-competition is considered out-of-competition.
Side Note: A prescription drug called Esterom includes Benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolites) and is used to relieve muscle pain. Theoretically, one can be on Esterom but it wouldn’t be a medically valid explanation due to Esterom being illegal in the US and not approved by the FDA. I don’t know if there are more drugs like Esterom, and this piece of information likely has nothing to do with this case.
January 3rd, 2014.
Fight night. Both Jones and Cormier take urine tests before and after the fight. The results haven’t come out yet.
January 5th/6th, 2014.
The UFC notifies Jones of the failed test. Why were the UFC notified of the results before Jon Jones, especially since allegedly no rules were violated? How is it the UFC’s business what Jon Jones has used if he violates no rules, and why do they deserve to know about it before the person being tested? Dana White appeared on UFC Tonight and confirmed they (the UFC) were aware of the drug results before the fight took place.
The results only came out due to a reporter requesting access to them (they’re public records) . Would this story have come out if it wasn’t for that reporter? Would the results have stayed ”hidden” and never been announced?
It’s important to note that the more shows the UFC puts on in Nevada, the better it is for the NSAC. To my understanding, they get compensated based on how well an event performs. If they’re being too strict in any way, the UFC could, in theory, look at other venues for their fights. Furthermore, one of the owners of the UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta, was a commissioner for the NSAC before getting involved with the UFC, and Marc Ratner, the current Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the UFC, was previously the Executive Director of the NSAC.
The first quarter of the year is an important one for the UFC as their credit rating was downgraded at the end of 2014. They’ve just announced a huge sponsorship deal with Reebok. One could assume that canceling the fight a couple of weeks before it happens – with little time to find a suitable replacement – might be disastrous, considering all the hype and build-up that involved in the fight.
According to his statement, Jones checks into a drug rehab facility after the fight. No discipline from the UFC even though Jones seems to have violated their Code of Conduct.
Some reporters have stated the NSAC are unable to punish Jon Jones for a positive out-of-competition recreational drug test. What about NRS 467.157 / Revocation of License which, to my understanding, basically allows them to discipline him for any ”sufficient” reason? Then again, would it be right to discipline him now, considering they knew about the results well before the fight took place?
