Boldenone

Boldenone (boldenone undecylenate, or 1,4-androstadieene-3-one,17β-ol), also known under the trade names Equipoise, Ganabol, Equigan and Ultragan, is an anabolic steroid developed for veterinary use, mostly for treatment of horses. It is not indicated for use in humans in the US and is only available through veterinary clinics.

Use in doping

The activity of boldenone is mainly anabolic, with a low androgenic potency. It has a very long half-life, with minimal blood levels present up to 8 weeks after discontinued use.

Boldenone will increase nitrogen retention, protein synthesis, increases appetite and stimulates the release of Erythropoietin in the kidneys. The drug is commonly used in doping within bodybuilding, even though this use is illegal. 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.

Boldenone has a low rate of aromatization (about 50% of Testosterone), which means it does not convert to oestrogen easily and does not cause very much water retention. Many Bodybuilders will find that it is a good replacement drug for Nandrolone.

Boldenone is among the substances banned by Major League Baseball, as well as most other major athletic organisations. As of November 2005, Matt Lawton is the only baseball player known to have tested positive for it. Stephan Bonnar, a mixed martial arts fighter from the UFC, has also tested positive for the banned substance.

It is a poor drug of choice for any athlete who will be subject to a blood test due to its long metabolic half-life. Trace amounts of the drug can easily be detected for months after discontinued use.

Side effects

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 5alpha-reductase enzyme (analogus to the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone DHT), however its affinity for this interaction in the human body is low to nonexistent. Supression of the HPTA, water retention, possible increase in acne and possible conversion to oestrogen , high blood pressure are all side effects associated with Boldenone. Boldenone is also known to cause anxiety and flu like symtoms which manifest themselves most acutely in short ester versions like: acetate, and propionate (almost unuseable), but which are also present in the enanthate, cypionate, and undecyclenate forms.

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