Nandrolone, or 19-Nortestosterone, is one of the most widely
used synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroids by athletes who need
power and muscle strength. It is derived from testosterone, the
main sex hormone produced in man, but has by far more powerful
anabolic properties.
Athletes use nandrolone to accelerate muscle growth and
increase lean body mass, strength and aggressiveness. Despite
inconclusive scientific data, nandrolone is also used for faster
recovery from intense training. Whatever the intention, the
side-effects of nandrolone are dangerous and should be taken very
seriously.
Nandrolone was first banned in 1976. The finding of a
potential doping offence with Nandrolone use is based on the
detection of the two major metabolites 19-norandrosterone (19-NA)
and 19-noretiocholanolone (19-NE). These metabolites can be
detected in the urine for several days after oral ingestion or for
months after injection into the muscles. Elimination is strongly
dose-dependent and individual.
Over the last decade, there have been numerous doping cases
involving nandrolone that have led to various hypotheses concerning
the origin of nandrolone metabolites found in the urine of
athletes. Several factors have been identified that might influence
a positive finding.
For example, physical effort can have different, but
certainly no systematic effects, on the excretion of nandrolone
metabolites, depending on an individual's metabolism. A natural
source for production within the body is also considered.
If you want to know why the case of nandrolone is so
complicated and why the unintentional intake with nutritional
supplements does not protect a player from being sanctioned, read
more about it.
