Max Jaben's B-Sample Positive for Boldenone

UPDATE

B"H

This is very bad news for Jaben and very bad news for Israel. It is possible, even probable, that Jaben's Olympic hopes have been dashed by Boldenone--an anabolic steroid often used in "stacking" by athletes who want to increase mass without water retention.

It is very unlikely it was mistakenly taken, as it is only cleared for veterinary use and does not appear in drugs commonly given for human conditions.

However, it is possible he was either set up by someone else, and/or he took the drug a long time ago (boldenone has an exceptionally long half-life and can be found in samples years later).

It says there are "traces" in his sample, but how much of a trace might be the deciding factor here.

My hopes aren't high.

M
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Last update - 00:16 20/07/2008
Israeli Olympic swimming qualifier tests positive for steroids
By The Associated Press
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1003464.html

Israeli Olympic swimming qualifier Max Jaben has tested positive for the anabolic steroid boldenone in two samples, the Israel Swimming Association said in a statement issued Saturday night, putting his chances of participating in the 2008 Beijing games in serious jeopardy.

While the brief statement did not specifically mention his future, the association announced earlier this month that the A sample of urine taken from Jaben on April 30 had been found to contain traces of boldenone and warned that should the second B sample likewise prove to be positive he would be suspended from the Israeli team pending a review by the ISA tribunal.

Saturday's statement confirming that the B sample had indeed tested positive set no date for a meeting of the tribunal.

Jaben, who qualified for Israel in the 200-meter freestyle, has denied any steroid use.

Before immigrating to Israel from the United States last summer he swam for the Kansas City Blazers club and for the University of Florida.

Jaben is the second Israeli Olympic athlete to fail a drug test recently.

Sailor Udi Gal tested positive for the masking drug Finasteride last month, but was given permission to compete in Beijing after the Israel Olympic Committee decided he had not received any benefit from the substance, found in the anti-hair loss drug Propeciar.