Is Testosterone the Problem Child of Sports Nutrition?

Hormones are particularly troublesome. I mean, they are blamed for poor moods, poor sex drive among both men and women, and rage among those over-producing the endocrine chemicals. Hormones, particularly testosterone, is proving to be forbidden fruit in sports nutrition.

With the departure from legal ports nutrition of steroids and a number of precursors—andro anyone?—athletes and weekend warriors are left clamoring for other ways to boost testosterone. Products such as 6-oxo (4-androstene-3,6,17-trione) s how how sports nutrition product development has tried to work back from steroid precursors to find other ways to amplify testosterone production in the body.

For its part, 6-oxo contributed to increased production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which thereby increase endogenous testosterone production. However, 6-oxo achieves this by blocking estrogen biosynthesis in the hypothalmus of the brain. The endgame testosterone increase is a less direct result. Thus it has not been deemed a dreaded steroid precursor.

Fair enough , right. Well, one particularly brand of 6-OXO, from ErgoPharm, has found itself in the middle of another positive test for banned substances that threatens to erase over half of this upcoming season for one Phillies pitcher, JC Romero. Romero claims the 6-OXO supplement showed no banned substances on its label, but somehow triggered the positive test. MLB officials reportedly tested the product before the positive test from Romero, finding the product contaminated with a yet-undisclosed banned substance.

Looking over the FDA warning letters and news on product seizures as well as positive tests in pro and Olympic athletics attributed to contaminated supplements, it becomes pretty clear the problems with contaminated supplements appear to concentrate on sex, weight-loss and sports supplement segments.

Given two of these troubled natural products segments focus on hormones, including testosterone, it is apparent, and no surprise, the quest to boost testosterone is accompanied by impropriety...at least by someone involved. Elite athletes will always strive for the edge in strength and performance, but does that make them more prone to take risks? Do they take advantage of the suppelment regulatory structure and FDA enforcement deficiencies to blame supplements whether deserved or not? Do unscrupulous manufacturers of sports nutrition (and/or sexual performance) products give their products some unlabeled, illegal help towards their testosterone ends?

Will testosterone-enhancing products forever plaque the sports nutrition market due to contamination conspiracies?

The negative press is dmaging. What can be done abotu this situation? What will be done?