Football player Paul Pogba was sentenced to four years of disqualification from the world of football after testing positive for DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone). But what is DHEA and why is it banned in the sports world? The DHEA It is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands in the human body. It is commonly sold as a dietary supplement and is promoted for a variety of purposes, including improving athletic performance and reversing the effects of aging. However, its effectiveness and safety as a supplement is under debate.
In the context of sports and doping, DHEA is considered a banned substance by many sports organizations, including World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and most international sports federations. Its use is prohibited both in and out of competition in many countries. Despite being classified as an anabolic-androgenic steroid, a class of hormones widely abused for muscle building and enhancing properties as described by the United Kingdom’s national health service, the NHS, in the United States , In other countries, it is a permitted ingredient (except for some sports organizations) and can be found in many supplements.
The main reason for its ban in most sports is its potential to enhance sports performance, either directly or as a precursor to other hormones, such as testosterone. In addition, its use can have adverse effects and pose health risks to athletes.
Sports disciplines that inhibit DHEA include, but are not limited to, strength sports such as weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting, as well as endurance sports such as track and field, cycling, and swimming. In the United States, organizations such as NFL, MLB and NCAA They also forbid it UFCthat fighters undergo anti-doping tests by the US anti-doping agency, the USED.
The DHEA sanction precedent
There is a well-known precedent for Paul Pogba’s punishment for using DHEA. This is the UFC fighter Bobby Green who tested positive in a USADA control in 2022. However, his punishment was only 6 months, after being reduced due to his cooperation and the low level of the substance found. The fighter admitted he took it without knowing it was banned after watching a YouTube video and started taking the supplement his wife bought him at the supermarket.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
