The popular assumption is that David Jacobs’ testosterone levels were significantly elevated based on a reported testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (T:E ratio) value of 22:1 in his official autopsy report. Are we correct to make this assumption?

I have been corresponding with Jason Trahan of the Dallas Morning News to reach a better understanding of the T:E ratio and what it really means. I felt Trahan’s interpretation of the T:E ratio was misleading.

Mr. Jacobs had more than five times the amount of testosterone in his system than allowed by standard sports testing.

The T:E ratio was indeed over five times the 4:1 ratio permitted by the World Anti-Doping Agency. But Jacobs did NOT have five times the normal levels of testosterone in his body. And Jacobs did NOT have five times the normal level of testosterone glucuronide (TG) in his urine either.

Does the David Jacobs’ T:E ratio provide evidence of seriously elevated testosterone levels?

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