Barry Bonds And Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG / The Clear)
Tetrahydrogestrinone is a custom steroid known by many names. This designer steroid distributed to selected elite athletes is nicknamed “The Clear” or THG. The creator of tetrahydrogestrinone, organic chemist Patrick Arnold modified two known drugs. One is a drug used to treat endometriosis and other gynecological issues called Gestrinone, and the other a steroid used by vets for livestock, Trenbolone. The combination of this pair and certain modifications created a steroid that was invisible to methods of drug testing athletes used at the time.
Tetrahydrogestrinone was given in a suspension of oil and placed under the tongue, a small amount was all that was required according the creator of this designer steroid Patrick Arnold. How wide spread the use of this drug was at the time may remain unknown though when the dust cleared from the official investigation many Professional and Olympic class athletes stood guilty either in the court of public opinion or by virtue of drug testing.
With the performance, enhancing drug tetrahydrogestrinone, a little goes a long way and the drug is stronger than any known similar steroid in its class. Tetrahydrogestrinone has never been FDA approved, and remains classified as an unapproved drug by the FDA. Most steroids undergo extensive testing and scrutiny for approval for animal or human use, however, tetrahydrogestrinone has undergone none of the extensive testing for side effects because it for illicit performance enhancement, not medical use and never submitted for formal approval or clinical trials as drugs developed for medical conditions would be. What this boils down to is the long term side effects may be yet unknown.
The half-life of the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone is from 24 to 48 hours. What scientists do know about Tetrahydrogestrinone is that it has an affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor, which can cause weight loss but also can result in immune suppression as a side effect, which uncommon in other types of anabolic steroids. Because it is an oral steroid, it also can cause liver function problems. Sterility of either sex is a known possibility. It however does not have estrogenic effects.
There have been many designer types of steroids created since Tetrahydrogestrinone. Most developed to evade current drug testing methods. However, none since have had the impact that Tetrahydrogestrinone (the clear) and the Balco scandal had on professional sports. The repercussions of that still felt even now in sports as more elite professional and Olympic athletes admit to having used performance-enhancing drugs during competition or over the course of their careers.
Tetrahydrogestrinone lost much of its popularity with athletes as soon as standard testing for the substance were developed and implemented.
Tetrahydrogestrinone’s main attraction was its invisibility and as that faded so did its wide spread use among the world’s elite. However, it is still available despite the fact that newer and comparatively safer steroids have since emerged. Steroid use without a prescription is illegal in the US and Canada. The demand however, appears undiminished as evidenced by the number of online sites promoting them anabolic steroids and performance enhancing substances of all descriptions.