Anabolic Steroids
Definition: Anabolic steroids are classified as an anabolic-androgenic steroid. Physically, anabolic steroids were modified to take a similar shape to testosterone’s structure. In similar terms, this means developing and/or building up characteristics of the human body, such as muscle mass, body hair, genital organs, and vocal cords. Throughout its existence, this drug has been historically used for athletic performance enhancements, muscle strength, and body augmentation.
History: Let's give a quick history lesson on these Anabolic Steroids. It all started in Germany in 1849, with Arnold Adolph Berthold, after he experimented on male birds and their male attributes, which gave an early understanding of testosterone. It wasn’t until the 1930s and 40s that this study of testosterone and steroids was developed further by experimentalists and scientists. The discovery of Testosterone was described by a German and Dutch chemist in 1935, then rapidly spread across Europe, with other chemists publishing their work and discoveries. One noticeable publication coming from Butenandt and Ruzicka on the synthesis of testosterone, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939. These discoveries all led to the rapid development of man-made androgens ( Anabolic steroids ).
The effects of this new androgen on hormones and body augmentation were discovered by elite athletes and bodybuilders from the 1950s to the 1970s, but were kept a secret from the general population, attributing their new physiques and performances to dedication and passion for the sport. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the information drug became known to the general public, causing sandals and major controversies within the athletic sports that continue today.
As of recently, the extreme use of anabolic steroids has been added to the ever-growing list of major substance abuse disorders across the world and is still used in sports such as athletics and bodybuilding despite recent regulations within those fields to combat it.
Anabolic Steroids vs Weightlifters
Abuse of this drug is currently highly looked down upon, but still occurs, causing major scandals in its wake. A famous case of this abuse was in 2008 with an Armenian weightlifting team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although the team was subjected to multiple rounds of drug tests before and after their events, they still managed to evade the international anti-doping tests through complex methods with the aid of a lab in Moscow, Russia. Some of these methods included plans for obtaining the anabolic steroids, warning them ahead of scheduled urine sampling, having stored clean samples, etc.
A former member of the weightlifting team stated that the athletes who might test positive for drugs were screened to protect them from consequences from international affairs and public scrutiny. During the processes, it was noted that all samples were sent to Grigory Rodchenkow, who was the former director of Russia’s anti-doping center in Moscow, to whom he was paid in cash to cover up the samples and positive tests.
This whole Armenian-Moscow lab scheme was exposed through whistleblowers first toward the Russian program, then the athletes. The scandal causes the athletes to lose their Olympic medals, the ability to compete in the European Senior Weightlifting Championship, and a one-year suspension from all international weightlifting competitions.
Why is it used?
Anabolic steroids are used for medical purposes when used correctly. They are typically used to treat:
primary male hypogonadism
Delayed puberty in male children
Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone deficiency
Certain types of breast cancer in women
Osteoprosis
endometriosis
What’s going on now?
The most recent development in Anabolic Steroids is a “new” form of this drug that makes it difficult for the steroids to be detected by anti-doping tests. This new steroid is tailored to the individual and lacks the target compounds while implementing different ones to ensure that the individual passes the drug detection.
This is extremely controversial because it opens the door to doping issues in high-stakes situations such as the Olympics and/or championship-level games. To combat these issues, pharmaceutical companies only allow individuals with a prescription to purchase them legally from a licensed physician.
Ethical Considerations?
Some of the ethical considerations that should be considered when discussing this drug are the following:
Sports:
The possibility of an unfair advantage between athletes
Violation of the sports international rules
Health Risk:
The potential for long-term damage
Ethical medical practice and “do no harm”
Influence on the youth:
Distorts body image
Could set a negative example
Did you know?
Some of the common street names for Anabolic steroids inculde: arnolds, juice, pumpers, roids, stackers, and weight gainers.
Work Cited
DEA Diversion Control Division. “Anabolic Steroids.” U.S. Department of Justice / Drug Enforcement Administration, Dec. 2024.
Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug Fact Sheet. Apr. 2020, https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Steroids-2020_0.pdf.
Fragkaki, A. G. “Structural Characteristics of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Contributing to Binding to the Androgen Receptor and to Their Anabolic and Androgenic Activities: Applied Modifications in the Steroidal Structure.” Steroids, vol. 74, no. 2, Feb. 2009, pp. 172–97, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.steroids.2008.10.016.
Kanayama, Gen. “History and Epidemiology of Anabolic Androgens in Athletes and Non-Athletes.” Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 464, Mar. 2018, pp. 4–13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2017.02.039.
Kuuranne, T. “Metabolism of ‘New’ Anabolic Steroids: Development of in Vitro Methodology in Metabolite Production and Analytical Techniques.” Wada, 2004, https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/scientific-research/metabolism-new-anabolic-steroids-development-vitro-methodology.
Mejiumyan, Ani. “Armenian Weightlifters Used Russian Lab to Cheat on Olympic Drug Tests.” OCCRP, 27 Mar. 2018, https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/armenian-weightlifters-used-russian-lab-to-cheat-on-olympic-drug-tests.
professional, Cleveland Clinic medical. “Anabolic Steroids.” Cleveland Clinic, 10 Sept. 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/5521-anabolic-steroids.
