Why would you need to remind an NFL player to avoid using a breast cancer drug?

Why on earth would an NFL player need to be reminded that he cannot take a breast cancer drug?

Recently, I got a tour of the Baltimore Ravens locker room (unfortunately, it wasn’t on game day). While there I noticed a sign that warned players about banned substances. And that list included tamoxifen — the controversial breast cancer drug that I’ve told you about many times.

Again…why would Ray Rice need a reminder to lay off the tamoxifen (I mean, I know why I wouldn’t take it, but was really curious about it being on this list)?

So I spent some time on Google.

It turns out that bodybuilders (and presumably football players) who use steroids risk a condition called gynocomastia — also known as “gyno” — which is the development of breast tissue in males. At some point, bodybuilders experimented with tamoxifen (the brand name is Nolvadex) and found that it reduced the risk of gyno development.

On a steroids website, I found an article with this shocking statement: “Nolvadex has become the most widely used medication in the world for men on steroids looking to avoid gyno.”

Just as shocking is the fact that the article mentioned almost nothing about side effects. Not a word about possible nausea, energy loss, mood swings, depression, deep-vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.

And not a word about tamoxifen being listed as a potential cancer-causing agent by California’s Environmental Protection Agency.

Obviously those probably aren’t the reasons that the NFL banned it, but, Ray…just be glad they did!

Sources:
“Nolvadex” isteroids.com