The elevated levels of hCG IS an indication that he took it. If it was a mistake, and Cushing just naturally has high levels of this stuff, then why doesn't he test positive for it more often? hCG is commonly used with steroids to restore testicular size and normal testicular production. Also, he had an injury last August, so maybe that's why he started taking. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/05/11/brian-cushing-had-an-august-knee-injury/
Thank you sir. Just look around at various blogs, websites and newspapers from around the country. Can you send me some links from them defending cushing.
I see your future. You're about to get the CaseyH "steroids don't help people recover from injuries" treatment, which will be followed by you posting commonly available empirical and anectdotal evidence tending to show steroids being used to help recover from injuries. good. times.
According to the ESPN tidbit (post 330 in this thread), his levels were slightly elevated ... and so little to the point that a season ago he would not have failed the test. I don't think you can conclude that he injected it based on that. As Schefter tweeted this morning, taking a pee test shortly after ejaculation can show elevated levels. I'm not saying that's what happened, but there's no evidence as of yet that he injected it. It still doesn't look good for him that the NFL turned down his appeal, but that could just be the league not bending.
He didn't have to take it as has been stated numerous times it's produced naturally and ejaculating recently before you take the test can lead to higher levels in a test.
Have you watched NFL Live...all those guys are completely defending Cushing and saying that it would be absolutely ridiculous if his ROY award was taken away. They point to how his play improved as the season progressed and how he continually tested negative after that initial positive test.
His testosterone levels were also high, which is common with hcg users. And what the NFL considers "high" for testosterone is generous to players. "...competitions like the Tour de France accepts up to a 4:1 testosterone to epitestosterone ratio, while the NFL and IOC allows up to a 6:1 ratio of the same mix" http://www.steroidsources.com/clear-clears.php
That is what is so ridiculous about them re-voting. The award is such a microcosm of the big picture here, but it's like these dumb ass, old media guys that have probably never played sports in their lives are turning a blind eye to that fact that the positive test was early in the season and was clean ever since. They get their heads so wrapped up in one big topic, it takes off like that Metro bus in Speed I, and there's no stopping them. If they are going to revote on this one, why don't they revote on some of the ones from the last 10 years? If not that, I would like to see reporters interview Peppers and Merriman on if they feel their awards should qualify for revotes
A normal individual that has not taken any sort of PED can have a ratio of 6:1 easily. Its not that uncommon. Of course, its typically at 1:1...but other ratios do exist by natural means.
Sorry if I missed this, as I'm just waking up (finals finally ended yesterday), but where did it say his testosterone levels were high?
So let me see if I understand this correctly, in the future Brian will have to deal with slightly abnormal looking testicles that may or may not function properly in order avoid failing more tests?
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/player?rd=1#/podcenter/?id=5179954&callsign=ESPNRADIO&autoplay=1 Different video segment: <object width="384" height="216" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="ESPN_VIDEO" data="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all"><param name="movie" value="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="opaque"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="flashVars" value="id=5178355"/></object> http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/5179750/should-ap-strip-brian-cushing-award
I'm not going to say that the guy's never done them before. I tend to think he probably has. What I have the biggest problem with is a suspension for such little evidence...evidence that can be explained by a perfectly good reason. I mean...when you are 22 years old, arent you in a constant state of ejaculated recently?
But he had both hcg AND high testosterone. And if he has naturally high testosterone, then why did he pass the other tests?
I think the ejaculation excuse is exaggerated. Ejaculations raises the levels, but not to the point that you will fail an NFL drug test.
but it isnt like he failed it by a great deal. "slightly higher levels" is the term being tossed around. Again, i'm not saying he didnt do it but for such a marginal amount, which can reasonable be explained, 4 games seems harsh.
