Competitive Edge lies with Power Lifters even after end of Doping

In a recently concluded study, it was found that power lifters who used anabolic steroid in the past still benefit from its usage though the traces are no longer identifiable. The study pointed out that the changes made to the shoulders and quadriceps of these previously doped power lifters gave them a competitive edge over those who presently dope or do not dope at all.

The research conducted by Anders Eriksson and Lars-Eric Thornell, Department of Integrative Medical Biology Section, found that there is a very high chance that a high number of nuclei in the muscle lead to increased muscle mass in the quadriceps and shoulder regions even after several years of anabolic steroid usage.

From Bio-Medicine.org:

The researchers examined data in two muscles: the vastus lateralis, found in the quadriceps, and the trapezius, a part of the shoulder-neck muscle. Each muscle is key to power lifting.

Three groups were examined. One group was comprised of seven power lifters who had previously used anabolic steroids for long periods of time but stopped their usage some years ago (PREV). One group was currently power lifting but did not use steroids (P). The third group was power lifting and taking steroids (PAS). The researchers examined muscle fiber distribution, fiber area, subsarcolemmal and internal myonuclei number per fiber, myonuclei expressing androgen receptors, satellite cell numbers per fiber, and proportion of split fibers in each muscle for each individual.

Findings

The researchers found that several years after anabolic steroid withdrawal, and with no or low current strength-training, the muscle fiber area intensity, the number of nuclei per fiber in the quadriceps was still comparable to that of athletes that were currently performing high intensity strength-training. They also discovered that the shoulder-neck fiber areas were comparable to high-intensity trained athletes and the number of nuclei per fiber was even higher than found in the current steroid-using group.

It was concluded in the study that the previously doped power lifters have an "unfair" advantage over power lifters (who doped and who do not dope) who engage themselves into high intensity strength-training in the present times, possibly due to a high number of nuclei per fiber.

Steroid Nasal Lavage Has No Harmful Effects On Chronic Rhinosinusitis

A small open-label study revealed that using steroid-saline nasal lavage daily for one month had no dangerous effects on adrenal sufficiency on chronic rhinosinusitis patients. The therapy offered a significant improvement in symptoms. The researchers used budesonide respules which can be used to deliver unit-dose medications in a sterile fashion.

The team of Dr. Jay Piccirillo said that their study is beneficial to physicians who want to use the method to explain potential risks and benefits to patients. Although the use of the medication as part of nasal lavage has not been approved by the FDA, researchers said that the off-label use of medications is legal and an accepted part of medical practice.

From Medpage today:

Nine patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were instructed to administer 0.25 milligrams of budesonide, diluted with 5.0 milliliters of isotonic saline daily for 30 days.

Their blood cortisol levels were measured before and after the 30 days using the standard cosyntropin stimulation test. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20).

Analysis showed:

• There was little difference in average post-stimulation cortisol levels at baseline and after 30 days -- 33.9 micrograms per deciliter compared with 35.2

• After 30 days, no patient had a post-stimulation cortisol level below the critical level (18 to 20 micrograms per deciliter) that would indicate adrenal insufficiency

• The total SNOT-20 score was 2.4 on average at baseline and 1.4 at the 30-day visit, an improvement that was both statistically and clinically significant (at P=0.02)

The team cautioned that the treatment protocol is off-label and still requires a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess other risks, such as loss of bone mineral density, as well as benefits in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, they claim that the treatment is effective since the decrease in SNOT-20 scores was consistent for all patients.

Deafness due to Immune System Attack can be treated with Steroids

Patients who are fighting from deafness due to an immune system attack can get benefits from the steroid treatment as per a new study of the University of Michigan's Kresge Hearing Research Institute.

Deafness caused by an immune system attack that is also known as autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss or AISNHL, can be treated effectively by steroid treatment after knowing the causes of mysterious hearing loss and the next course of action for treatment of deafness.

This study strongly pointed out that accurate prediction can be given with respect to who all will be able to regain their hearing capabilities with steroid treatment after a direct test for antibodies has been conducted, as per Thomas Carey, Ph.D., senior author, professor and a distinguished research scientist at the U-M Medical School and department chair in the School of Dentistry.

From News-Medical.Net:

Researchers at U-M have been studying IESCA for several years in animals and have found that it may be a main target of the immune system's deafening attack on the inner ear.

IESCA is found in the supporting cells that help make up the organ of Corti, a tiny but crucial structure inside the cochlea, or inner ear.

It is here, inside the organ of Corti, that the ultra-sensitive hair cells are found.
Their movement in response to vibrations creates the nerve signals that are fed to the brain and interpreted as sounds and speech.

It has been seen that damage to the organ of Corti and hair cells, whether due to immune system attack, loud noise, trauma or medications, can diminish or destroy hearing.

By developing a monoclonal antibody, called KHRI-3, that attaches to IESCA in the inner ear, and can be detected in living animal systems and cell cultures, it has allowed the researchers to study IESCA's role in hearing loss in animal models, and show that damage to the inner ear caused by antibodies to IESCA can destroy hearing.

The KHRI-3 antibody creates a staining pattern that resembles a line of tiny wine glasses when it binds to IESCA in the organs of Corti of guinea pigs.

The U-M has patent applications pending in the U.S. and overseas, but Carey says the development of a clinical test for patient antibody to IESCA will take time.

Carey told that almost all of his patients who were put to trial for this study reported nearly improved hearing senses after being cured with steroid treatment after suffering immediate hearing loss post an attack of immune system.

The study was funded by the Ruth and Lynn Townsend Fund, a gift from the Holden Foundation, the Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss Research Fund, the National Institutes of Health, and the Deafness Research Foundation.

Low Dosages of Steroids with Lenalidomide Prolong Survival for Multiple Myeloma Patients

Low doses of dexamethasone, a steroid, with lenalidomide can help in prolonging survival for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, according to a trial conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

It was found during the trial that a combination of low doses of dexamethasone and lenalidomide is far better than lenalidomide and higher doses of dexamethasone.

These results are expected to have major implications for multiple myeloma therapy as per noted study chair Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

Preliminary results from a large, randomized clinical trial for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, a cancer typically found in bone marrow, has shown that the use of a low dose of the steroid dexamethasone (Decadron ®), in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid ®) is associated with improved survival when compared to a treatment regimen with lenalidomide and a higher, standard dose of dexamethasone. The clinical trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG).

The data monitoring committee overseeing the trial (known as E4A03) recommended that the survival results from a recent interim analysis be made public because of early differences being seen in overall survival rates. Researchers found that patients in the study who received low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide had a one-year survival of 96 percent compared to 86 percent for patients treated with the standard-dose of dexamethasone and lenalidomide. In addition, there were fewer side effects associated with the low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide.

Rajkumar remarked that the trial results seem to be very positive in nature and can be seen as a real step forward in treating patients fighting against multiple myeloma.

Home-Based Steroid Test Kit-Now Available In The Market

SteroidConfirm™, a new home-based steroid test kit, is the new tool that can help parents and athlete coaches to fight steroid abuse. This home-based steroid test kit is developed by San Diego, and the first home-based test kit sold in the market.

SteroidConfirm can detect up to 17 different types of performance-enhancing agents. Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, the urine-based product can accurately quantify substances well below regular cut-off levels. SteroidConfirm is designed specifically for consumer use, and includes a patented syringe within a sealable tube to minimize accidental spills or transport damage. This practical design provides ample volume of specimen for the laboratory and is less bulky than transport cups.

From PR Web:

Steroid testing is becoming of even greater interest to parents and schools, given the wide media coverage of well-known and well-liked professional athletes, who are suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that more than a half million 8th and 10th grade students are now using these dangerous drugs, and increasing numbers of high school seniors don’t believe steroids are risky. Another study indicated that 1,084,000 Americans, or 0.5 percent of the adult population, said that they had used anabolic steroids.

According to the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) released by the Department of Health and Human Services steroid abuse is especially among male 12th graders.

SteroidConfirm also provides a Medical Review Officer report and a Chain of Custody form for use by organizations who regularly test their employees or schools who screen their student athletes.

The home-based steroid test kit also includes a Medical Review Officer Report, where the parent has the opportunity to consult a Doctor regarding test results. The test results are available through a secure, online portal, with the information being 100 percent confidential; no personal information is required.

Steroid Nasal Spray Works Better Than Oral Antihistamine

In a research conducted by the team of Dr. Robert Naclerio of the University of Chicago found out that steroid nasal spray is more effective than the usual inhaled corticosteroids and antihistamine in treating seasonal allergies.

The researchers compared the effectiveness of fluticasone (Flonase),a corticosteroid nasal spray, with loratadine (Claritin),a nonsedating antihistamine, for treating ragweed allergy on an as-needed basis. The team found out that participants who used the inhaled steroid experienced significantly fewer allergy symptoms and reported less impact on their quality of life than those who took the antihistamine.

From Bio-Medicine:

Researchers say that a steroid nasal spray may relieve seasonal allergy symptoms better than an oral antihistamine.

During the four-week study, 88 participants took either the steroid nasal spray or antihistamine on an as-needed basis. They kept a daily diary of their allergy symptoms and completed a quality-of-life questionnaire.

Researchers looked for chemical evidence of allergic reaction, such as eosinophils, in participants' blood. Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in defending the body from allergens. For best results, experts generally recommend that you use either an inhaled steroid or an antihistamine on a continuous, long-term basis.

But the researchers point out that most people tend to wait until symptoms appear before taking allergy medications. This may be one reason for the superiority of the steroid nasal spray in the study. Unlike inhaled corticosteroids, antihistamines like Claritin are not very effective in blocking the allergic response once it has begun.

Although antihistamine and inhaled corticosteroids are the usual treatments given to relieve allergic symptoms, researchers claim that these treatments are less effective in addressing the condition. These treatments are found to be ineffective in treating allergic symptoms especially if they have started to manifest. The team suggests that steroid nasal spray should only be used on an as needed basis.

Tendon Feels Acutely Injured After Steroid Injection

A Loyola University Health System study shows that steroid injections cause a tendon to behave in a way where it thinks it has been acutely injured. According to Dr. John Callaci, steroid injection temporarily produces a molecular response in the tissue that is similar to that of a tendon injury, possibly making it more vulnerable to damage during this time.

In the study, Callaci and colleagues examined the global gene expression profiles in rotator cuff tendons following injury or exposure to corticosteroid. The researchers used gene array analysis of the complete rat genome to characterize the molecular response of rat rotator cuff tendon tissue to injury, injection of corticosteroids, and the presence of both injury and corticosteroid.

Results of the study show that 2,000 genes were changed by injury; 1,000 genes were changed by steroids. A significant number, 750, of the changed genes overlapped between the two groups.

From Medical News Today:

Patients who get a steroid injection in their shoulder for rotator cuff pain relief or improved shoulder function should not return to their regular activities or start physical therapy for a few weeks, a Loyola University Health System study shows.
"The implication of an overlapping pathway is that you have pathways that are modulated after an injury suggesting the tendon is doing things to try to heal itself," said Callaci. "That might suggest there might be a temporary period of vulnerability or weakness in a tendon. It thinks it is being injured and it produces things that normally it produces after injury, which might cause some temporary instability."

In conclusion, the team of Dr. Callaci suggests that patients who had steroid injections on their tendon injury should have enough time to rehabilitate. Immediate physical therapy or rigorous activities may cause further damage because the weakened tissue is not able to sustain itself.

COPD Patients to benefit from Inhaled Corticosteroids

As per a new study published in the CHEST, a peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients using inhaled corticosteroids are believed to have a decreased mortality risk than who do not use them.

The survival is longer in patients with COPD who make use of inhaled corticosteroids, as per Christine Macie, MD, FCCP, Cambridge Hospital, Ontario, Canada and author of this study.

From Bio-medicine.org:

“Our results indicate that the effect of inhaled corticosteroids is relatively short-term and that those currently using it are relatively better protected, ” said Dr. Macie. “Inhaled corticosteroids should be prescribed as soon as clinically indicated. By treating COPD with inhaled corticosteroids, we have the potential to reduce the effect and prolong life.”

“The findings from this study are intriguing for clinicians and point to the need for further research to define the role and mechanisms of the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on both cardiovascular and respiratory mortality,” said W. Michael Alberts, MD, FCCP, President of the ACCP.

During the study, it was found that COPD patients being administered with inhaled corticosteroids within 30 days of their hospital discharge had a 25 percent reduced all-cause mortality rate. In addition to that, cardiovascular related mortality reduced by as much as 38 percent in COPD patients using corticosteroids in pair with beta-agonists.

Dr. Macie also said that COPD Patients making use of inhaled corticosteroids are relatively better protected than those who are not making a use of it.

Steroids can help Children with Kawasaki’s disease for minimizing risk of Heart Damage

According to a recent Pediatrics Study, steroids have the ability to considerable minimize the risk of heart damage development in children with Kawasaki's disease.

The study tend to address a gap of knowledge as the present guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) constitute the standard treatment to help children with Kawasaki's disease fight against it.

Stephen Aronoff, MD, lead author of the meta-analysis and Temple University School of Medicine professor and chair of Pediatrics, remarked that his and his team's motivation was positively influenced by this knowledge gap. He also remarked that the gap also encouraged him and his team to examine the benefits of steroids.

Aronoff also remarked that a combination of steroids along with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) can considerably reduce the developing odds of inflammation of the blood vessels.

From Redorbit.com:

"This gap in knowledge led us to examine the benefits of steroids more closely. We looked at research worldwide and were surprised to find eight solid clinical trials showing the value of steroids in significantly reducing heart damage in children with Kawasaki's disease. Steroids, when combined with aspirin and IVGB, reduced the odds of developing inflammation of the heart blood vessels by half," said Stephen Aronoff, MD, lead author of the meta-analysis and Temple University School of Medicine professor and chair of pediatrics.

Aronoff hopes that a multi-center study, currently underway, will provide further evidence of the benefits of steroid treatment for Kawasaki's disease. Also needed is more evidence about the most effective types and doses of steroids.

Kawasaki's disease is primarily responsible for inflaming the vessels of the blood leading to the heart. The disease is believed to be one of the leading causes of acquired heart ailments in the young age group. It is important to note that the Kawasaki's disease can become a life-threatening and complicated ailment if left untreated for more than 5-10 days.

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Patients Provide Better Relief

A new study revealed that there is a new non-surgical treatment to cure the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome. Researchers compared results between people who had been experiencing symptoms of the condition for at least three months. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either surgery or steroid injections. Results showed no difference in outcomes between the groups over the long term, and in the short term, people who received the injections actually reported better relief of symptoms.

Symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome are usually treated by splinting and pain relievers such as ibuprofen. In cases that neither of these treatments works, patients choose to have surgery to decompress the nerve. Since steroid injection offers relief from the symptoms, many carpel tunnel syndrome patients will greatly benefit from this innovation.

From Bio-Medicine:

Researchers say a non-surgical treatment is just as good as invasive surgery in relieving painful symptoms associated with carpel tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition of the wrist resulting from compression of the median nerve that runs from the base of the palm up to the forearm affecting people who perform repetitive hand motions, including computer users, dental hygienists, and even golfers and tennis players.

Standard treatment for symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome includes splinting and pain relievers like ibuprofen. When those methods fail to help, many patients undergo surgery to decompress the nerve. However, another option is to receive steroid injections to relieve symptoms.

Carpel tunnel syndrome causes numbness and pain in the fingers or hand. Some people even have pain in their arms between their hand and elbow. This condition of the wrist resulting from compression of the median nerve that runs from the base of the palm up to the forearm affecting people who perform repetitive hand motions, including computer users, golfers and tennis players.

Pregnant Women Solve Morning Sickness With Oral Steroids

Pregnant women now find solution towards their morning sickness ordeal. In a small study conducted by Joanna Adamczak, oral methylprednisolone (Solumedrol) helped reduce pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. Within three days of starting therapy, Dr. Adamczak reported that patients had fewer episodes of nausea and vomiting with oral methylprednisolone.

The study included 110 patients with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in a randomized clinical trial. All the patients had normal-appearing singleton intrauterine pregnancies and an estimated gestational age of eight to 14 weeks.

From medpage today:

"[Methylprednisolone] appears to be clinically effective and cost-effective for treatment of symptomatic nausea and vomiting of pregnancy," said Dr. Adamczak.

Typically, nausea and vomiting begin as early as the fourth week of pregnancy, peak at nine to 10 weeks, and resolve by 16 to 18 weeks. Although severe cases (hyperemesis gravidarum) complicate less than 1% of pregnancies, nausea and vomiting is the most common reason for hospitalization during the first trimester, she noted.

Promethazine suppositories are commonly used to treat the problem, Dr. Adamczak said. Although the methylprednisolone dose pack is a potential alternative to promethazine suppositories, the relative efficacy of the two treatments has not been studied extensively, she continued.

To compare the two therapies, her team enrolled 110 patients with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in a randomized clinical trial. All the patients had normal-appearing singleton intrauterine pregnancies and an estimated gestational age of eight to 14 weeks, as determined by ultrasound.

Patients were randomized to promethazine suppositories 25mg every six hours or methylprednisolone 8mg TID on day 1, and then tapered over six days. After starting therapy, patients had follow-up visits at three, seven, and 14 days.

Although patient acceptance was not evaluated, the team observed that participants who had methylprednisolone did not complain, while some who took promethazine were not pleased about the medication.

Multiple myeloma patients to benefit from Lenalidomide and low doses of steroids

According to a randomized clinic trial, lenalidomide and low doses of steroids are helpful for treating patients suffering from multiple myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells found in blood and bone marrow).

The trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and conducted by researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). It was a part of the National Institutes of Health and was chaired by Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

Preliminary results from a large, randomized clinical trial for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, a cancer typically found in bone marrow, has shown that the use of a low dose of the steroid dexamethasone(Decadron ®), in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid ®) is associated with improved survival when compared to a treatment regimen with lenalidomide and a higher, standard dose of dexamethasone. The clinical trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG).

The data monitoring committee overseeing the trial (known as E4A03) recommended that the survival results from a recent interim analysis be made public because of early differences being seen in overall survival rates. Researchers found that patients in the study who received low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide had a one-year survival of 96 percent compared to 86 percent for patients treated with the standard-dose of dexamethasone and lenalidomide. In addition, there were fewer side effects associated with the low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide. Detailed results from this trial will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, Ill., from June 1 to 5, 2007.

These findings have revealed that patients showed better signs of improvement with lenalidomide and low doses of steroids against lenalidomide and high doses of steroids. It is expected that these findings will be a real step forward in the right direction for treatment of Multiple Myeloma.

Sudden Hearing Loss can be treated by Steroids

Intravenous steroid therapy when given to patients suffering from sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) proves to be quite effective.

Sudden hearing loss occurs suddenly in one ear, and causes a 30+ decibel (dB) hearing loss at three consecutive frequencies, generally within three days,

Spain researchers presented a new study which evaluated the effect of intratympanic steroid injections in patients with SSNHL. Studies was conducted on 50 patients who were diagnosed with unilateral (affecting one ear) SSNHL due to unknown reasons. Standard intravenous steroid treatment, hearing improvement of 15 dB or more in PTA was noted in 32 cases (64 percent).

From medical news today:

As a result of its anti-inflammatory effect, high-dosage systemic steroid therapy is currently the mainstay of the treatment for SSNHL. Despite oral or intravenous steroid therapy for two weeks, approximately 30-50 percent of patients show no response. Animal studies have found that intratympanic steroid injections, introducing steroids through the tympanic membrane, results in reduced systemic steroid toxicity and higher perilymph steroid level selectively. Past research has focused on use of these injections as a secondary-line therapy in SSNHL refractory cases. Other clinicians promote its use as first-line therapy in all SSNHL cases. Nevertheless, few controlled studies have been published comparing the results between intratympanic steroid treatment and other approaches.

The statistical differences in age, sex ratio were not considered at the time of onset to therapy, presence of vertigo and tinnitus, initial hearing level, and final hearing level after intravenous treatment between the two groups. This non-randomized prospective clinical trial showed that intratympanic methylprednisolone significantly improved the outcome of SSNHL after intravenous steroid treatment.

It was proved by the study that therapy involving Intratympanic steroids is an effective and safe therapy for SSNHL cases that are refractory to standard treatment since ear is a very sensitive part.

Many clinical trials were defined by the researchers to suggest the number of injections, the types of steroids, and the most adequate doses given to the patient. It was concluded that steroids do help in relieving the symptoms caused by SSNHL.

Anabolic Steroids Are Quite Effective

Anabolic steroids have been curing many problems of millions of people such as deficiencies in sex hormones and burn victims who need to build up their metabolism to repair musculoskeletal tissue.

They have been successfully used in different treatments to improve surgical repair of recurrent tears or massive of the shoulder's rotator cuff tendons that often creates problems for sportsmen. These properties can be applied to shoulder tissue as it has been reported that anabolic steroid can be used on such tissue apart from building muscle mass and strength.

A new study was conducted in which supraspinatus tendon cells were harvested from the patients at the time of rotator cuff surgery. A bioartificial tendon was developed where cells were grown in the culture media to coalesce and form an experimental tendon model. Some of the developing tissues were treated with the anabolic steroid, nandrolone decoanate, before applying mechanical strain.

From Medical news today:

New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that treatment with anabolic steroids may improve surgical repair of massive or recurrent tears of the shoulder's rotator cuff tendons.

Such injuries extend well beyond the world of high-performance athletes, professional and collegiate - often occurring among older weekend athletes, including tennis and golf players. The study, which appears in the June issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine, was led by Dr. Spero Karas, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in UNC's School of Medicine.

This showed a significant increase in their biomechanical properties. After consuming anabolic steroids, tendons formed were smaller, stronger, denser, and had better remodeling properties than tissue cells not treated with steroid or placed under strain. Moreover, they were more elastic.

Anabolic steroids are FDA-approved for treating anemia for their ability to help the body rebuild blood. Studies have also showed that improvements in surgical repair of massive or recurrent tears of the shoulder's rotator cuff tendons can be seen after using anabolic steroids.

Triathlete Faces A Ban After Failed Attempt To Use Steroids

The Triathlon Australia has placed a two year ban to Nathan Hollands for his attempt to use anabolic steroids. The arrest of the Australian triathlete began when the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service intercepted a package addressed to Hollands in March last year.

The agencies discovered the package that contained the prohibited anabolic steroid methandienone (Dianabol) disguised as financial statements. They then informed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) who conducted further investigation.

From theage.com.au:

Australian triathlete Nathan Hollands has accepted a two-year ban for attempted use of anabolic steroids. The sanction stems from a failed attempt by 31-year-old Hollands to import anabolic steroids from Thailand.

The sanction was imposed by Triathlon Australia following an investigation conducted by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

Investigations into the attempted importation began when the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service intercepted a package addressed to Hollands in March last year. Customs discovered the package contained the prohibited anabolic steroid methandienone (Dianabol) disguised as financial statements, before alerting ASADA.

ASADA chairman Richard Ings said Hollands' sanction was evidence that Australia's anti-doping partnership between ASADA and Customs was working successfully to detect serious doping cases.

Holland's plight is similar to that of Australian sprinter Nathan Allen, who was banned last year for two years after winning the 2007 Stawell Gift.

Allen was hailed as one of the fastest men in Australia, only to be suspended and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to one count of importing steroids from Thailand.

Nathan Hollands admitted that he was stupid when he tried to import six vials of anabolic steroids from Thailand to help him recover from a groin injury that was hampering his bid to win a berth in the Australian team for the Beijing Olympics. Hollands will be eligible to compete again in May 1, 2011 after his two year ban.