With the study, Jona Elings Knutsson wanted, among other things, to see if testosterone is a performance enhancer for women, since no one has tested it scientifically before, and partly to see how testosterone affects women’s doping tests.
A total of 48 fit women between the ages of 18 and 35 were included, where half received a testosterone cream and half received a placebo cream.
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Gabriella from Falun was one of the women who received testosterone and the biggest difference was the recovery.
– I didn’t feel as tired, she says.
Increased its performance
Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who had received the real supplement.
And the result was striking.
The group that received testosterone cream increased their levels by almost five times compared to normal values.
– Most pointed out that their performance had improved, says Knutsson.
“Made for men”
The women’s endurance was compared before and after the 10-week study. In the study, the researchers saw, among other things, that testosterone increased the women’s endurance when running by an average of 8.5 percent – even though the participants received a small dose of testosterone.
But of the 24 women who received the testosterone cream and increased their ability, only two received a positive doping result.
– It is well known that the tests used are developed for men, says Jona Elings Knutsson.
One of the reasons why it is more difficult to detect doping in women is that the urine tests do not take into account that women’s testosterone levels change during the menstrual cycle. And changes in connection with the use of contraceptives, such as birth control pills.
New test can catch more cheaters
But during the study, the researchers managed to find a new way to analyze the blood samples.
In 2023, the anti-doping organization Wada introduced the blood test in the doping tests used for elite athletes.
In the study, a limit value was also obtained that makes it possible to reveal doping in ordinary exercisers who have not provided previous samples to compare with – something that elite athletes always have to do.
– I will be extra satisfied when I watch the Olympics this summer, partly because we found the gaps in the anti-doping work and partly because we found a way to close them, says Jona Elings Knutsson.