The Doping Dictionary

Here are some terms, names, concepts, etc. that may appear in posts:

• PED - Performance enhancing drug. The name is rather self-explanatory. It is important to note that masking agents (substances that prevent the detection of a banned substance) are classified as PEDs, as are diuretics, which are used either to cause an athlete to quickly lose weight or as a masking agent.
• RBC - Short for red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes. RBCs are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to cells; in sports, we care about oxygen delivery to muscles. Presence of oxygen allows the cells the undergo aerobic respiration, which allows for greater production of ATP, the "energy" molecule that allows muscles to perform work. A higher RBC count means more oxygen can be delivered to the muscles, which allows them to perform more efficiently for longer periods of time.
• EPO - Short for erythropoietin. A naturally occurring hormone (in this case, a cytokine, which is a "small" signaling molecule) that induces RBC production. Everyone has EPO in the body.  In terms of doping, when people refer to "EPO", they are referring to either synthetic (i.e., laboratory made) EPO that is injected into the bloodstream or other erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). ESAs are cytokines similar to EPO that serve the same function: to induce the production of red blood cells. ESAs are synthetic.
• HGH - Short for human growth hormone. HGH stimulates development, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration. Similar to EPO, HGH is naturally occurring. In sports, synthetic HGH is used to help athletes recover from difficult workouts, competitions (think a pitcher throwing a complete game), or injuries. HGH use also leads to the reduction of body fat and an increase in lean muscle mass. Synthetic HGH cannot be detected by urine test.
• T/E ratio - Testosterone to epitestosterone ratio. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for male characteristics including larger muscle and bone mass and body hair. Use of testosterone in athletics increases a muscle's protein output, which allows the muscles to grow and repair faster. Epitestosterone is an inactive epimer (structurally the same except for a difference at one stereocenter) of testosterone. Most grown males produce the same amount of epitestosterone as testosterone. As such, a way to test for testosterone use is check the relative levels of testosterone to epitestosterone.  f the T/E level is up at 6:1, something isn't right. Floyd Landis tested for a T/E of 11:1 in the 2006 TdF--he has since admitted to doping, but says he didn't use testosterone during that Tour.
• Anabolic steroids - These are the drugs that make people huge and lead to testicular atrophy. They have many similar effects as testosterone does on the body and increase protein secretion in skeletal muscle (these are the muscles generally thought of when the word "muscle" is used; examples include the bicep, pectoralis, quadricep, etc.). Examples of anabolic steroids are stanozolol (Winstrol) and furazabol (Ben Johnson's drug of choice...except he tested positive for stanozolol, which he says he never used because it made his muscles feel tight).
• Microdose - A popular way of administering PEDs to athletes. For many PEDs, athletes are allowed to have a certain amount of a substance in their system, such as a T/E level up to 4:1 or a hematocrit up to 50 (in the late 90s/early 2000s in cycling). So, as long as you could stay under that number, you were good to go.  The way to day this was to take PEDs at lower levels but do it more frequently. Also, by taking lower doses on the drug, the drug is able to clear out of the system more quickly. You still get the benefit of the drug, but you don't get busted.
• WADA - The World Anti-Doping Agency. Founded in November of 1999, WADA is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the World Anit-Doping Code, which serves as the basis for anti-doping policies for many organizations around the world, including the International Olympic Committee. WADA does not administer any testing.
• USADA - The United States Anti-Doping Agency. In charge of anti-doping efforts in the United States inline with WADA code.
• IOC - The International Olympic Committee. The group charged with organizing the Summer and Winter Olympics and their related anti-doping efforts.
• IAAF - International Association of Athletics Federations. The world governing body for track and field, cross country, and road racing. First and foremost, they run the semi-yearly IAAF World Championships, as well as handing out doping punishments for athletes they govern.
• Athletics - What track and field is known as to the world outside the United States.
• UCI - Union Cycliste Internationale (En: International Cycling Union). The governing body for cycling.  hey run the Tour de France
• TDF (sometimes TdF) - Le Tour de France. Cycling's premier event, a grueling 21 stage in 23 day event that covers around 3200km (~2000 miles). Often cited as the dirtiest event in sports, this is where Lance Armstrong laid his claim to fame by winning seven consecutive Tours, victories he has since vacated (and, due to the number of dopers in those Tours, the titles remain vacated and have not been awarded to any other riders).
• TUE - Therapeutic use exemption. An athlete can apply to the WADA for a TUE if they have a medical need for a certain banned substance. The Nike Oregon Project, headed by Alberto Salazar, is noted for its use of TUEs, particularly for thyroid problems.
• BALCO - Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative. A PED lab founded by Victor Conte.  Distributed HGH and "the Clear" (THG, tetrahydrogestrinone - a designer anabolic steroid).  Notable clients included Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, Regina Jacobs, Dwain Chambers, Tim Montgomery, and Bill Romanowski.
• Biogenensis - An anti-aging clinic founded by Anthony Bosch in South Florida. The claimed to specialize in weight-loss and hormone replacement therapy--drugs that achieve these results for normal people who might actually need them can be abused by athletes and are classified as PEDs.  Major League Baseball suspended 14 players in August 2013 for their involvement with the clinic.
• NOP - Nike Oregon Project. The group of athletes coached by Alberto Salazar.  Some members are London gold medalist at 5000m and 10000m Mo Farah, London 10000m silver medalist Galen Rupp, and 2011 bronze medalist at 1500m Matthew Centrowitz, Jr. Salazar also coached Mary Slaney (neé Decker) when she tested positive for elevated T/E levels at the 1996 Olympic Trials.
• OTC - Oregon Track Club. Started by Bill Bowerman 1958, OTC is technically an all-comers club. More importantly, many top American athletes represent OTC, either as OTC or OTC Elite. Most of the time, the athletes have little actual association with Oregon. The two main groups under the OTC name are headed by Mark Rowland and Jerry Schumacher.  Schumacher's group is also part of the NOP, but generally when people refer to the NOP, they are referring to Salazar.