Ostarine: the performance-enhancing drug giving anti-doping agencies a headache Shutterstock AI/Shutterstock.com Tom Bassindale, Sheffield Hallam University A drug designed to help cancer patients rebuild wasting muscles has become one of the most contentious substances in eli…

Ostarine: the performance-enhancing drug giving anti-doping agencies a headache | www.weareforensic.co.uk/ostarine-the...

How THG Evaded Detection: A Dive into Steroid Chemistry The death of Victor Conte last week, founder of the BALCO lab at centre of a massive steroid scandal, has brought back lots of memories of that time period. I was working in the London WADA lab at …

How THG Evaded Detection: A Dive into Steroid Chemistry | www.weareforensic.co.uk/how-thg-evad...

How THG Evaded Detection: A Dive into Steroid Chemistry The death of Victor Conte last week, founder of the BALCO lab at centre of a massive steroid scandal, has brought back lots of memories of that time period. I was working in the London WADA lab at …

How THG Evaded Detection: A Dive into Steroid Chemistry | www.weareforensic.co.uk/how-thg-evad...

Enhanced Games – “Are You Not Entertained?” The Enhanced Games is a new, multi event, international sports competition set to debut in May 2026 in Las Vegas. The point of difference? Actively encouraging the use of performance enhancing drug…

Enhanced Games – “Are You Not Entertained?” | www.weareforensic.co.uk/enhanced-gam...

Cardiff University scales back proposed cuts to chemistry department following consultation Department still set to merge with two others but there will be no compulsory redundancies

share.google/YLiCcRqSUgz8...

I was enthusiastic on here for a bit, but that dropped off rapidly. Not as quick as Threads though. I'll give it another go.

Tom Bassindale | Substack Expert in anti-doping science, forensic toxicology, higher education. Head of School of Biosciences and Chemistry at Sheffield Hallam University and www.weareforensic.co.uk. Click to read Tom Bassinda...

Tom Bassindale - feel free to give me a follow weareforensic.substack.com?r=332duj&utm...

Has anyone tried substack for writing? Thought I'd give it a go as I haven't found much engagement here and X is no fun anymore. Or is blueksy now working better?

Subscribe to Tom Bassindale Expert in anti-doping science, forensic toxicology, higher education. Head of School of Biosciences and Chemistry at Sheffield Hallam University and www.weareforensic.co.uk. Click to read Tom Bassinda...

Tom Bassindale
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Meldonium: the drug allegedly found in Mykhailo Mudryk’s doping test explained Chelsea player Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test.

Meldonium: the drug allegedly found in Mykhailo Mudryk’s doping test.

Something I wrote for The Conversation.

Read the piece here👇

theconversation.com/meldonium-th...

I'd be asking when Mudryk last had a drugs test prior to the suspicious one. Meldonium can hang around a while if used regularly.

Would one time or short term actually aid performance?

If short gap between tests and prior was negative it helps the 'tainted supplement' defence.

No clear answers on meldonium Russia has seen athletes in at least 12 sports test positive for meldonium.

All as we didn't (don't) really know how long it can hang around in the body.
eu.usatoday.com/story/sports...

WADA announce meldonium suspension climbdown Amnesty declared by WADA on meldonium positive sanctions   The World Anti Doping Agency have today declared what amounts to a meldonium amnesty as preliminary research has been provided to the...

Then the WADA climbdown: www.weareforensic.co.uk/wada-announc...

Maria Sharapova and Meldonium Doping Yesterday the worlds richest sportswoman announced she had tested positive for a banned performance enhancing drug at the first 'Grand Slam' of the year in Australia. The drug - meldonium. &...

It's great to see meldonium back in the news! here's a couple of pieces I wrote back in the day:
Sharpova
www.weareforensic.co.uk/maria-sharap...

Reprieve for University of Reading’s chemistry department but redundancies loom Proposed closure has been averted although MSc and MChem programmes will end

‘We received a large volume of correspondence that made it clear that students, employers and the chemistry and wider scientific community were concerned...' The full story on the University of Reading has now been published @chemistryworld.bsky.social: www.chemistryworld.com/news/repriev...

The School of Biosciences and Chemistry at Sheffield Hallam has arrived on BlueSky.

Here's a starter pack of our folks that's are here as well

go.bsky.app/EaYxKUo

📢 📢 📢 12-month Lectureship in Biochemistry and Analytical Science at Sheffield Hallam University

Please share: bit.ly/LectBiochemA...

Table of UCAS acceptance data from 23 vs 24.

From the OfS report into HE providers financial sustainability.

UK UG intake 1% growth vs 5% anticipated. Detail shows larger teaching universities anticipated 5% growth yet got 1%, Research Intensive anticipated little growth but got 10%.

16% drop in international visa applications.

UCLan last week, Reading looks like it's this week's threatened department.. Let's keep some Chemistry schools open.

Is this the wheel turning to applied courses again? Chemistry remains a top 5 A Level, yet conversion to degree is getting lower. We need more chemists!

Lowest point is above the UK mean salary. It's not high, granted, but standard academic rates. Some post docs will be paid into this range but well above PhD stipends.

Universities fighting for their future must be bold and must be fast As 72 per cent of institutions are forecast to go into the red, the head of the Office for Students calls for decisive action

The Times:
Universities and colleges are autonomous institutions responsible for deciding how best to reshape their provision to secure their financial health... But one thing is clear: the time for bold and transformative action is here.

www.thetimes.com/article/4a9d...

Three in four England universities expected to be in the red next year Higher education regulator says sector needs to take ‘take bold action’ and consider mergers or cost sharing

"Three in four England universities expected to be in the red next year"

According to the Office for Students “bold and transformative action” is needed. Mergers and cost sharing are mooted. Times are tough and might get tougher.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Recruitment ad for Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry and Sheffield Hallam University. £38.205-£42,978 per annum

Has this place got a jobs board?

Please share around anyone who may be interested in our Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry position at Sheffield Hallam University. Closing date 17/11/24.

#AnalyticalChemistry #academicjobs

Another chemistry closure at UCLan. Not good for chemistry sector. Chemistry jobs are outgrowing the job market in other sectors, we need skilled Chemistry graduates from a variety of institutions.

Uriah Rennie: Veteran referee becomes Sheffield Hallam University chancellor Uriah Rennie is to become chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University in 2025.

Great appointment for the University.

"The Premier League's first black referee, Uriah Rennie, has been named as the new chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University. "

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sheffield Hallam University entrance with autumnal trees

Lovely autumn colours outside campus for our Sheffield Hallam Open Day 🍂🍁.

Well after a year of non use, I've had about 20 new follows today, so something must now be happening on Bluesky. I'll take another look around.

Entrance to Royal Society of Chemistry building

Royal Society of Chemistry library

Braved the storms to visit London and the Royal Society of Chemistry, Heads of Chemistry meeting. Always good to talk chemistry research and education.