Okay, after hearing about Landis, I got to thinking (it *does* happen
occasionally).
The various athletic organizations set standards for various drug
levels. Some of those drugs are naturally occuring (i.e.
testosterone). They set the standards based on the "norms" for the
general populace. But elite athletes are not the general populace.
They have attributes, be they physiological or psychological, that
enable them to compete at a level far beyond that which the general
populace could achieve (were they to train).
Norms don't mean much. Suppose you determine that, for example, for
drug X 95% of the population has a level between 2 and 6 (units don't
matter - it's an example). That means that 5% of the population (or
about 300,000,000 people) have a normal - i.e. NOT artificial - level
outside 2 and 6. It's not unthinkable that out of 300,000,000 people
you could find a few thousand freaks with a normal level of, say, 12.
What would happen if an athletic organization was to test one of the
freaks?
Before you say this cannot happen, I'll point out that I have a friend
who is extremely hyperthyroid. Without medication, his levels are
about 3.5 times the maximum of the "normal" range.
Bottom line: I'm wondering, when it comes to naturally occuring
substances, such as testosterone, if athletic organizations need to do
more than a simple bodily fluid test. Perhaps they need to sequester
questionable athletes for a given period and monitor the relevant
levels. That might be fairer in determining cheaters.
Anyone with relevant medical/chemical training who can comment?
Jeff