Hormone Optimization Without Cheating
Can an athlete boost his testosterone levels and pass a drug test? It depends on how he does it.
In sports, there are cheaters and there are optimizers. A cheater knowingly breaks the rules. On the other hand, an optimizer seeks to enhance performance in every possible way that doesn't break the rules.
Taking synthetic testosterone is a great way to enhance performance, but it's also cheating. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other anti-doping agencies use the testosterone:epitestosterone (T:E) ratio to bust the cheaters.
Basically, the athlete pees in a cup. The concentrations of testosterone and epitestosterone are measured using techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the ratio is calculated. A T:E ratio greater than 4:1 is suspicious and indicates possible testosterone doping.
There are a couple of ways to (maybe) beat the test: microdosing testosterone and supplementing with epitestosterone. But this is tricky, and follow-up tests like Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry usually pop the scoundrels.
An optimizer wouldn't pull these shenanigans, but he would make sure his testosterone levels were naturally, not synthetically, elevated. Supplementally, there's no better way to do that than taking Longjack (Buy at Amazon) (also called Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali). But, can you take it and still pass a drug test?
The Study
Longjack is a known natural testosterone booster. Longjack synthesizes testosterone by blocking its aromatization into estrogen while stimulating testosterone production in Leydig cells. Unlike exogenous testosterone, which shuts down your own T production, Longjack stimulates your body's natural testosterone production. As a nice side effect, it's also an aphrodisiac.
Since Longjack's T-boosting effects are well-known and established by numerous other studies, researchers in this study only focused on one thing: can you take Longjack and still pass the piss test?
They gathered up 13 men, all recreational athletes aged 24 to 34, and gave them either Longjack (400 mg) or a placebo for six weeks, then switched groups and did it again for another six weeks after a wash-out period. During the testing period, lots of urine was collected, and T:E ratios were tested.
What Happened?
While those taking Longjack experienced a healthy testosterone boost, they did not fail the drug tests – they were below the cut-off point of 4:1 set by the IOC Medical Commission. They passed the tests because Longjack stimulated their natural testosterone production, optimizing it without a synthetic. The researchers also tested the athletes' liver and kidney function. All was well on both fronts.
What To Take
Previous studies show that even smaller doses (100 mg) of Longjack lead to increased lean body mass, decreased body fat percentage, and increased strength in lifters. This study used a large dose (400 mg). However, the researchers didn't use a form of Longjack that optimizes bioavailability.
To ensure complete absorption, only use the LJ100 form of Longjack with a self-emulsifying delivery matrix designed to get all active fractions into the body. Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon) checks those boxes.
References
- Chen et al. "Supplementation of Eurycoma longifolia Jack Extract for 6 Weeks Does Not Affect Urinary Testosterone: Epitestosterone Ratio, Liver and Renal Functions in Male Recreational Athletes." Int J Prev Med. 2014 Jun; 5(6): 728-733.