Muscle nuclei remember to cheat death / L.M. Schwartz. – (Journal of physiology (2013) 24 (25 December) : p. 6133-6134) doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.268243.

Comment on:
A cellular memory mechanism aids overload hypertrophy in muscle long after an episodic exposure to anabolic steroids / Ingrid M. Egner, Jo C. Bruusgaard, Einar Eftestøl, Kristian Gundersen. – (Journal of physiology (2013) 24 (28 October) : p. 6221-6230) doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264457. Epub 2013 Oct 28.

Facts
The French Federation for Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo and Associated Disciplines (Fédération Française de Judo, Jujitsu, Kendo et Disciplines Associées FFJDA) charges respondent M34 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. The respondent didn't provide her whereabouts data as being part of the designated testing pool.

History
The respondent had received an earlier sanction for the use of the prohibited substance cannabis. There were exceptional circumstances because respondent had family and financial problems. She even was without fixed home address during these facts.

Decision
1. The sanction is a period of ineligibility of six weeks.
2. The decision of February 18, 2010, by the disciplinary committee of the FFJDA shouls be modified.
3. The present decision will start on the date of notification.
4. The decision will be published and sent to the parties involved.

Scientific Opinion on the Regulatory Status of 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) / Bastiaan J. Venhuis, Dries de Kaste. – (European Journal of Food Research & Review 2 (2012) 4 (November 26) : p. 93-100)

Content:
- Introduction
- Nomenclature
- Pharmacology
- Intranasal Application
- Oral Application
- Discussion
• Effect on the heart
• Effect on the Blood Pressure
• Effect on the Lungs and the Nose
- Conclusion

1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA) is a pressor amine often found in food supplements for athletes at dosages of 25-65 mg. Historically, the compound has been used as a nasal decongestant but its oral application is largely unstudied leaving the regulatory status of such food supplements as unlicensed medicines undetermined. We therefore reviewed the literature on DMAA and similar amines in order to deduce an effective oral dosage. Based on our findings we conclude that oral preparations with >4 mg DMAA per dose unit should be considered as effective as a bronchodilator. Food supplements that exceed that limit are in fact subject to the Medicines Act and require licensing. Dosages higher than 100-200 mg are expected to cause serious adverse events.

Facts
The French Equestrian Federation (Fédération Française d'Équitation, FFE) charges respondent M33 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules.
During an event on November 7, 2009, a sample was taken for doping test purposes. The analysis of the sample showed the presence of prednisolone and prednisone. Prednisolone and prednisone are prohibited substances according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list and regarded as a specified substances.

History
The respondent didn't provide any explanation about how the prohibited substances had entered his body.

Decision
1. The sanction is a period of ineligibility of two years in which respondent can't take part in competition or manifestations organized by the FFE.
2. The decision (a warning) dated February 8, 2010, of the disciplinary committee should be modified.
4. The present decision will start on the date of notification.
5. The decision will be published and sent to the parties involved.

Facts
The French Pétanque Federation (Fédération Française de pétanque et jeu provençal, FFPJP)) charges respondent M32 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. During a match on September 19, 2009, a sample was taken for doping test purposes. The analysis of the sample showed the presence of atenolol. Atenolol is a prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list and it is regarded as a specified substance.

History
The respondent used medication to treat a myocardical infarction he had, which caused the positive test. He has a medical certificate for this condition.

Decision
1. The respondent is acquitted.
2. The decision (a warning) dated January 25, 2010, of the disciplinary committee of the FFPJP should be modified.
3. The decision will start on the date of notification.
4. The decision will be published and sent to the parties involved.

A cellular memory mechanism aids overload hypertrophy in muscle long after an episodic exposure to anabolic steroids / Ingrid M. Egner, Jo C. Bruusgaard, Einar Eftestøl, Kristian Gundersen. – (Journal of physiology (2013) 24 (28 October) : p. 6221-6230) doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264457. Epub 2013 Oct 28.

Content:
- Introduction
- Methods
• Animal experiments
• Analysis of testosterone levels in blood
• In vivo myonuclear imaging
• Immunohistochemistry
• Statistics
- Results
- Discussion
• Mechanisms for muscle hypertrophy and memory
• Muscle memory in sport and public health

Previous strength training with or without the use of anabolic steroids facilitates subsequent re-acquisition of muscle mass even after long intervening periods of inactivity. Based on in vivo and ex vivo microscopy we here propose a cellular memory mechanism residing in the muscle cells. Female mice were treated with testosterone propionate for 14 days, inducing a 66% increase in the number of myonuclei and a 77% increase in fibre cross-sectional area. Three weeks after removing the drug, fibre size was decreased to the same level as in sham treated animals, but the number of nuclei remained elevated for at least 3 months (>10% of the mouse lifespan). At this time, when the myonuclei-rich muscles were exposed to overload-exercise for 6 days, the fibre cross-sectional area increased by 31% while control muscles did not grow significantly. We suggest that the lasting, elevated number of myonuclei constitutes a cellular memory facilitating subsequent muscle overload hypertrophy. Our findings might have consequences for the exclusion time of doping offenders. Since the ability to generate new myonuclei is impaired in the elderly our data also invites speculation that it might be beneficial to perform strength training when young in order to benefit in senescence.

Comment in:
Muscle nuclei remember to cheat death / L.M. Schwartz. – (Journal of physiology (2013) 24 (25 December) : p. 6133-6134) doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.268243.

The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sport: Structure and Review Process by the World Anti-Doping Agency / Irene Mazzoni, Osquel Barroso, Olivier Rabin. – (Journal of Analytical Toxicology 35 (2011) 9 (November/December) : p. 608-612) PMID: 22080899
Content:
- Historical Background
- The Prohibited List Under WADA
• Periodic update of the list
• Criteria to include substances or methods in the List
• Categories and subcategories under the List
• Monitoring Program
- Conclusions

The List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (the List) is the International Standard that determines what is prohibited in sport in- and out-of-competition. The official text of the List is produced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the international independent organization responsible for promoting, coordinating and monitoring the fight against doping in sport. The drafting of the annual List is a highly interactive and consultative process involving scientific and medical experts in anti-doping, sport federations and governments. In this article, the elements that compose the List as well as the process behind its annual revision and update are presented.

Facts
The French Table Tennis Federation (Fédération Française de Tennis de Table, FFTT) charges respondent M31 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Code. During a match on September 19, 2009, a sample was taken for doping test purposes. The analysis of the sample showed the presence of triamcinolone. Triamcinolone is a prohibited substances according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, it is regarded as a specified substances.

History
The cause of the positive test is a medicine the respondent used against to treat occipital neuralgia. He has medicial statements to prove this condition.

Decision
1. The respondent is acquitted.
2. The decision, dated December 18, 2009, by the disciplinary committee of the FFTT should be modified.
3. The decision will start on the date of notification.
4. The decision will be published and sent to the parties involved.

Use of forensic investigations in anti-doping / Nicolas Jan, François Marclay, Natalie Schmutz, Matt Smith, Alain Lacoste, Vincent Castella, Patrice Mangin. – (Forensic science international (2011) 213 (10 August) : p. 109-113)
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.07.037. Epub 2011 Aug 10.

The fight against doping is mainly focused on direct detection, using analytical methods for the detection of doping agents in biological samples. However, the World Anti-Doping Code also defines doping as possession, administration or attempted administration of prohibited substances or methods, trafficking or attempted trafficking in any prohibited substance or methods. As these issues correspond to criminal investigation, a forensic approach can help assessing potential violation of these rules. In the context of a rowing competition, genetic analyses were conducted on biological samples collected in infusion apparatus, bags and tubing in order to obtain DNA profiles. As no database of athletes' DNA profiles was available, the use of information from the location detection as well as contextual information were key to determine a population of suspected athletes and to obtain reference DNA profiles for comparison. Analysis of samples from infusion systems provided 8 different DNA profiles. The comparison between these profiles and 8 reference profiles from suspected athletes could not be distinguished. This case-study is one of the first where a forensic approach was applied for anti-doping purposes. Based on this investigation, the International Rowing Federation authorities decided to ban not only the incriminated athletes, but also the coaches and officials for 2 years.

Facts
The French Federation of Volley-ball (French Volleyball Federation, FFVB) charges respondent M30 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. During a Volleyball match on November 21, 2009, a sample was taken for doping test purposes. The sample showed the presence of a metabolite of cannabis. Cannabis is a prohibited substance according the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list and is regarded as a specified substance.

History
The respondent used the prohibited substance a few days before the doping test. He didn't use it to enhance his sport performance, but used it to deal with the distress he had from separating from his wife and his right to see his daughter.

Decision
1. The sanction is a period of ineligibility of six months in which respondent can't take part in competition or manifestation organized by the FFVB.
2. The period of ineligibility will be reduced by the period already in served in voluntary suspension and by the decision (two months period of ineligibility), dated January 29, 2010, of the disciplinary committee of the FFVB.
3. The decision starts on the date of the volleyball competition of 2010/2011.
4. The decision will be published and sent to the parties involved.