Guadalupe González is an endurance athlete that barely weighs 100 pounds. She is nonetheless accused of using a muscle-building steroid widely-known for its adverse effect on endurance.
María Guadalupe González Romero, a 29-year old racewalker representing Mexico who won the silver medal in the 20-kilometer walk at both the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and 2017 World Championships, has tested positive for the anabolic steroid trenbolone.
González’ trenbolone positive came from an analysis of an out-of-competition urine sample collected in October 2018. The anti-doping collection was conducted by the Comité Nacional Antidopaje de México at the request of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) has provisionally suspended González.
Guadalupe González believes she ate beef contaminated with trenbolone.
González has vehemently denied knowingly or intentionally using anabolic steroids of any kind. The Mexican racewalker suspects that the trenbolone entered her body via the consumption of contaminated beef.
Carlos Padilla Becerra, the president of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), has pledged the committee’s full support in clearing González’ name.
Mexico is no stranger to athletes who have tested positive to prohibited performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) following the consumption of contaminated meat. Anti-doping authorities have generally exonerated these athletes, or at least issue a “no-fault” judgment, in such cases.
However, González is one of the first athletes to test positive for anabolic steroids and blame it on the consumption of contaminated meat.
Trenbolone is an entirely different type of drug than clenbuterol. Trenbolone belongs to a class of drug known as anabolic-androgenic steroids whereas clenbuterol belongs to a class of drugs known as long-acting beta-adrenergic agonists. But both drugs are used in livestock to promote muscle growth.
González case could benefit greatly from a recent ruling by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). USADA recently concluded that 90-year old track cyclist Carl Grove was not at fault after he tested positive for trenbolone.
Grove, like González blamed contaminated meat, for the trenbolone positive. Grove only received a “public warning” for his anti-doping rule violation instead of a 4-year suspension for a first time violation.
The Grove decision was a precedent-setting case for athletes who suspect their trenbolone positives resulted from contaminated meat. González’ prospects for a successful appeal are good.
Olympic athlete tests positive for #steroid: was it from store-bought meat? – https://t.co/WPlAArRv3k #doping #steroids #WADA #agendas
— Dr. Emir Crowne (@SportsLaws) December 9, 2018