Rebeca Gusmoa, the Brazilian Pan Am swimming champ suspended for high testosterone, say her hormonal abnormality stems from an ovarian disease. That could be a possibility.
Story at Swimnews.com. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) does produce high testosterone in women. PCOS occurs when the ovaries produce too much androgen (testosterone). The symptoms include menstrual irregularity, infertility, hirsuteness, acme, weight gain (obesity), baldness, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Some researchers believe PCOS might be caused by insulin.
Note the weight gain is in the waist, producing obesity rather than muscular definition. What does syndrome looks like in a world class swimmer? Female swimmers develop broad shoulders and strong backs. Might the physiology be different in a top athlete? Shouldn't the other symptoms be present: too much body hair, acne, baldness, etc.
We have seen PCOS produced by drugs. Could PCOS be caused by use of testosterone, as in doping? Gusmoa shows the acne in the close up photo. Her physique appears radically altered; she looks twice as large as her competitors. Gusmoa claims doctors diagnosed PCOS in 2003; she says she wasn't treated. (treatment consists of progesterone, and other measures if the blood sugar becomes uncontrolled; oral hypoglycemics for blood sugar, and other medicines for hypertension, acne, fertility, excess body hair).
An important finding would be is the testosterone in Gusmoa's sample shows synthetic qualities. Since PCOS would produce natural T, the proof is in the lab. Of Gusmoa does have PCOS, then she should have alerted FINA to the max. She says she did; did FINA listen?
Gusmão told O Estado de Sao Paulo that, in conversations with three doctors - Cláudio Cardoni, Marcos Bernhoeft e Renata Castro - and members of the Doping panel of the Confederação Brasileira de Desportos Aquáticos (CBDA - Brazilian federation), she tried to maintain an aura of calm.
'The news is bad but I have a clear conscience,' said Gusmão. 'I was tested five times at the Pan Ams and the doctors found this in just one. I'm annoyed because I've been cut from the world cup squad but I know that things will work out well.'
She confirmed that she was diagnosed in 2003 with an ovarian complaint that results in elevated levels of testosterone. "I've had problems since 2003 ... but I had no treatment and I told FINA about it'. Knowing that she is subject to regular testing, the swimmer said she would 'have to be foolish' to have taken anything 'as one of the 12 best swimmers in the world'.
'We know that that type of substance does not leave the body from one hour to the next', she added.
Gusmão may now lose the medals she won at the Pan Ams. Venezuelan Arlene Semeco would be elevetaded to gold over 50 and 100m freestyle, while Canada would take silver in the 4x100m freestyle and the Bahamas bronze in the 4x100m medley.
The sprinter says she will take her case as far as necessary to prove her innocence. 'If the B sample proves positive, I'll appeal to a higher authority. But I put my trust in God.
Presidente of the Brazilian federation and FINA member, Coaracy Nunes, is not expecting divine intervention: 'Never has the confederation been able to overturn such a decision.'
Swimmer Gusmoa says ovarian problem caused elevated testosterone 
