Secret Metanolon Dose in Coffee Looks Far-Fetched
Experienced coach is unlikely to give one useless dose of anabolic steroid which will give no effect but may fail doping tests.
Aliaksandr Jafimau
Coach Aliaksandr Jafimau told few days before he added Matanolon, a steroid, to Belarusian shot putter Nadzieja Astapchuk’s coffee.
However, there was no coffee on the menu of the training site’s restaurant on July 30 when Jafimau claims to have added the drug to the coffee.
Surely, coffee could be ordered separately, but there still are still some big problems.
Firstly, liquid Metanolon (which is sold in ampoules) does not dissolve in water — it is liposoluble. If added in coffee, Metanolon will float on the top of the cup.
The coach could also try to dissolve powdered Metanolon pill. It is partially dissolvable in water, but the whole procedure will take too much time and can hardly be unnoticed, expert of Russian Anti-Doping Agency Nikita Kamaev says.
Mr. Kamaev also does not believe that experienced Jafimau could have secretly add useless doping.
“If the coach adds a pill in coffee aiming to improve athlete’s performance, it looks ridiculous. The coach obtained a specific drug —usually used for women — with a vivid anabolic effect. However, he will not achieve his goal as a single dose is ineffective.”
Coach Jafimau has also mentioned that he had kept Metanolon for himself due to its “good therapeutic effect.” Actually, the drug is effective against gout, gonorrhea and some other infections.
However, Metanolon (another name Primobolan) is banned in Belarus as anabolic steroid. It is not registered as drug.
Usually, Metanolon is smuggled to the athletes who know perfectly what they are going to use it for. Thus, the secret dose of Metanolon in a cup of coffee looks far-fetched.