Tetrahydrogestrinone (often referred to as THG or "the clear") is an anabolic steroid. It has affinity to the androgen receptor and the progesterone receptor, but not to the estrogen receptor.^[1] The drug has been considered a "designer drug", closely related to the banned anabolic steroids gestrinone and trenbolone,^[2] and was banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of 2003.^[3] In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the path by which a drug, fluid, poison or other substance is brought into contact with the body 1. ... Chemical structure of the natural anabolic hormone testosterone, 17β-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one. ... The androgen receptor is an intracellular steroid receptor that specifically binds testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. ... The progesterone receptor is an intracellular steroid receptor that specifically binds progesterone. ... Gestrinone is a synthetic steroid hormone that acts as an anti-progestin and also has some androgenic activity. ... Trenbolone is a steroid used by veterinarians on livestock to increase muscle growth and appetite. ... hi “FDA” redirects here. ...

It was created by an American chemist named Patrick Arnold, who is also supposed to be the father of pro-hormones in nutritional supplements market of the United States.^{[citation needed]} Patrick Arnold is an American organic chemist responsible for creating the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone, also known as THG.[1] THG, along with two other anabolic steroids that Patrick Arnold manufactured (norbolethone and desoxymethyltestosterone (DMT)), were drugs at the heart of the BALCO scandal[2]. At the time of their creation...

The drug was made public when the United States Anti-Doping Agency was contacted by an anonymous athletics coach, later identified as Trevor Graham who claimed that several top athletes were using THG and provided the USADA with a syringe containing THG, which the USADA then used to develop a test for the substance.^[4] The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which began operations on 1 October 2000, is a non-governmental agency responsible for implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code in the United States. ... Trevor Graham is a Jamaican-born athletics coach, based in the United States. ...

The USADA identified the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), an American nutritional supplement company, as the source of THG.^{[citation needed]} The company manufactured the drug through palladium-charcoal catalyzed hydrogenation from gestrinone, a substance used in gynecology for treatment of endometriosis.^{[citation needed]} The Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) is a controversial sports nutrition center in Burlingame, California, USA. The company achieved infamy due to a long investigation in accusations that the lab provided anabolic steroids and other banned performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, many famous. ...

THG had been distributed to several leading athletes, including many during the BALCO scandal. The Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) is a controversial sports nutrition center in Burlingame, California, USA. The company achieved infamy due to a long investigation in accusations that the lab provided anabolic steroids and other banned performance-enhancing drugs to athletes, many famous. ...

References

1. ^ Death AK, McGrath KC, Kazlauskas R, Handelsman DJ. Tetrahydrogestrinone is a potent androgen and progestin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 May;89(5):2498-500[1]
2. ^ Oct.2003 FDA statement on THG
3. ^ THG ban
4. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1182730.htm

External links

• The identity of the whistle-blowing coach
• This Is Very Clever Chemistry from the Washington Post, December 4, 2004
• "The will to win is nothing without the will to train"