Boldenone

Boldenone

File:Boldenone.png
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-6,7,8,9,10,11, 12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-3H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
Clinical data
Pregnancy category	X (US) X (AUS)
Routes of administration	Intramuscular
Legal status
Legal status	Schedule III (US) POM (UK)
Pharmacokinetic data
Biological half-life	14 days
Identifiers
CAS Number	846-48-0
ATC code	none
PubChem	CID 13308
ChemSpider	12744
Chemical data
Formula	C19H26O2
Molar mass	286.409 g/mol[[]]
Physical data
Melting point	165 °C (329 °F)
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Boldenone (1,4-androstadiene-3-one-17β-ol, available as the undecylenate ester), also known under the trade names Equipoise, Ganabol, Equigan and Ultragan, is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses. In the US it is not indicated for use in humans and is only available through veterinary clinics.

Effects and side-effects

The activity of boldenone is mainly anabolic, with a low androgenic potency.

Boldenone will increase nitrogen retention, protein synthesis, increases appetite and stimulates the release of erythropoietin in the kidneys.

Boldenone was synthesized in an attempt to create a long-acting injectable Dianabol (Methandrostenolone), but in reality Equipoise acts nothing like Dianabol. The muscular gains made on a Boldenone cycle are usually slow and steady, resulting in quality sustainable muscle, whereas Dianabol is a faster acting steroid designed for immediate weight gain. Another reason Boldenone is so popular for bulking is because it increases the appetite; this is also a reason many athletes will stay away from it pre-contest.

Boldenone has a low rate of aromatization (about 50% of Testosterone), which means it does not convert to estrogen easily and does not cause very much water retention.

It has a very long half-life, and can show up on a steroid test for up to 1.5 years, due to the long undecylenate ester attached to the parent steroid. Trace amounts of the drug can easily be detected for months after discontinued use.

Although commonly compared to nandrolone, boldenone lacks progesterone receptor interaction and all the associated progestinic side effects. Boldenone can, however, produce mild androgenic side effects. Oily skin, acne, increased aggression and hair loss are all possible with this compound but rare. Boldenone does reduce to a more potent androgen dihydroboldenone via the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme (analogous to the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), however its affinity for this interaction in the human body is low to nonexistent. Suppression of the HPTA, water retention, possible increase in acne and possible conversion to estrogen, high blood pressure are all side effects associated with Boldenone.

Use in sports

Bodybuilding

Boldenone is often used by bodybuilders in both off-season and pre-contest. Boldenone is well known for increasing vascularity while preparing for a bodybuilding contest. If intended to assist in bodybuilding, the drug is taken as part of a steroid stack of other anabolic steroids, usually with a potent androgen like testosterone as the 'base' of the stack.

Common bodybuilding doses range between 200 mg to 400 mg/week but could be as high as 800 mg/week. The medical advised dosage is 1mg per kilogram of bodyweight every 2-3 weeks.

Many bodybuilders will find that it is a good replacement drug for Nandrolone.

Baseball

Boldenone is among the substances banned by Major League Baseball, as well as most other major athletic organizations.

Martial arts

Stephan Bonnar and Josh Barnett, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters from the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships, have also tested positive for the banned substance. After the World Extreme Cagefighting show on January 20, 2006 Muay Thai turned MMA fighter Kit Cope also tested positive for Boldenone.Following the Strikeforce card on June 22, 2007 former PRIDE and UFC fighter Phil Baroni tested positive for Boldenone, as well as Stanozolol. Most recently, at a K-1 WGP event in Las Vegas on August 17, 2007 two fighters, Rickard Nordstrand and Zabit Samedov, both tested positive for Boldenone. It was also announced on August 21, 2008, that EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva tested positive for the banned substance prior to his fight and victory over Justin Eilers.

Alexandre Franca Nogueira has tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone, the California State Athletic Commission said Monday in a statement, on July 7, 2008. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=13588

Antonio Silva tested positive for Boldenone metabolites following his title-winning victory over Justin Eilers at “Unfinished Business” on July 26.

On Aug. 21, Silva was issued a yearlong suspension and $2,500 fine after his post-fight urine samples were returned from a World Anti-Doping Agency approved laboratory in Montreal, Canada.

Australian Football League

Justin Charles of Richmond tested positive for the substance in 1997 and was suspended for 16 matches.

Major League Soccer

Jon Conway (goal keeper) and Jeff Parke (defender) of the New York Red Bulls both tested positive for the substance in 2008 and were suspended 10 games and fined 10% of their annual income. They are also the first to abuse MLS drug policy. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=582565&sec=mls&cc=5901

Boxing

Former three time champion James Toney tested positive for Boldenone and Stanozolol after a May 24th fight. Toney also tested positive for Stanozolol two years ago after a fight with John Ruiz costing him the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight championship.

Horse racing

Leading horse trainer Gai Waterhouse has been fined $10,000 after being found guilty on the 15th of May 2008 of presenting a horse to the races with a prohibited substance in its system. Her horse Perfectly Poised was found to have traces of the banned substance boldenone in its system after finishing second at Canterbury in April 2007.

References

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