A big shocker came in baseball this week, as it was announced that Los Angeles Dodger slugger Manny Ramirez was being suspended 50 games for testing positive for HCG in a random drug test, as well as having testosterone levels 4-10 times higher than what is normal.
"Although anti-doping experts have said HCG is commonly used to replenish testosterone after a cycle of steroids, sources close to Ramirez have suggested the HCG was prescribed to combat issues surrounding sexual performance."
Dr. Mitchell Matez is our specialist in alternative and naturopathic medicine at SMAC, and is a leading expert on bioidentical hormone therapy in Boca Raton and the country. He offered some insight into this news item, and doesn't buy the PR spin from the Ramirez camp:
"HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)is used in men to mimick the effects of LH (Luetinizing Hormone). LH is the pituitary hormone that stimulates the testicles thereby increasing testosterone production. It is mostly used by atheletes/bodybuilders/etc. to counteract the unpleasant side effects of testicular shrinkage and decreased testosterone production that is common with anabolic steroid use.
While I tend to doubt the story, it theoretically could be used as a sexual enhancer. A young healthy athlete such as Manny Ramirez would likely have a significant increase in his Testosterone levels with the use of HCG. Higher test levels yields increased libido and better
erectile function. Most likely the lack of native Testosterone production and testicular atrophy seen during and after the use of anabolic steroids played a role here, but he could actually be using this as a primary method to boost Test levels. Either way he's fried."
Dr. Jason Pozner
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Sanctuary Plastic Surgery
Dr. David J. Goldberg
Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center
Skin Laser Surgery Specialists of NY/NJ
Any pro baseball player who does performance enhancing drugs and expects not to get caught has gotta be crazy
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