The discovery of tetrahydrogestrinone

In June 2003, Los Angeles, California, researchers working at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory received a package containing a spent syringe with traces of an unidentified compound of anabolic steroid. This was originally sent anonymously to the United States Anti-doping Agency. The researchers then quickly made some chemical test to deduce the chemical formula of the compound. They were able to synthesize a new compound, which they named as tetrahydrogestrinone. The compound is quite similar to the previously banned anabolic steroids gestrinone and trenbolone.

Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) is the second designer anabolic steroid to be identified by then-director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab, Don Catlin, MD. The first reported was norbolethone. THG was found to be a highly potent agonist for the androgen and progesterone receptors, but it has no estrogenic activity.

It was first developed by Patrick Arnold for the American nutritional supplement company, BALCO. It was also referred to as “The Clear” probably due to its concealment before 2003. Several athletes like Marion Jones, admitted to using it before the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It gave her three gold medals. Another known user was Dwaine Chambers, a British athlete who was banned for steroids use.

From The Medical News:

In June 2003, a spent syringe having allegedly contained an undetectable anabolic steroid was anonymously provided to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), and the contents delivered to the research team in Los Angeles. The researchers, led by Don Catlin, detected an unfamiliar substance and deduced its chemical formula. They were then able to synthesize a compound with this formula, which they named tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) and which matched the unknown substance in the syringe.