Furthermore, Conte has said there is no proof THG is a steroid by the scientific definition. Catlin, however, said he is convinced it is.
Federal law makes possession of anabolic steroids illegal without a doctor's prescription. But some lawyers contend THG may not fit the legal definition of a steroid.
"It's apparently a newly created substance," said New York defense attorney Rick Collins, a former prosecutor who has defended clients accused of illegal steroid possession. "At this point we have no evidence, only speculation."
Collins said a stronger criminal case could be made that THG is an unapproved drug that violates Food and Drug Administration regulations for the marketing of pharmaceuticals.
Either way, sports governing bodies worldwide are moving to crack down on THG use. The NFL has said the league might retest its samples for THG. Swimming's world governing body said it would consider retesting drug samples from its world championships this summer.
Anti-doping scientists said Catlin's discovery may confirm what they have suspected for years: that there is a robust underground trade in performance-enhancers created specifically to evade detection.
"This is junior chemistry compared to what's coming," warned Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
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