Sports Nutrition Why Anabolic Steroids Are Banned in Bodybuilding and Weightlifting By Paul Rogers Paul Rogers Paul Rogers is a personal trainer with experience in a wide range of sports, including track, triathlon, marathon, hockey, tennis, and baseball. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 22, 2022 Reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Heather Black, CPT Reviewed by Heather Black, CPT Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Learn about our Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print joebelanger / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents List of Anabolic Steroids Adverse Effects Use by Athletes How Steroids Are Taken A Word From Verywell The term anabolic steroid usually refers to synthetic substances related to naturally occurring male sex hormones, such as testosterone, which itself could be described as an anabolic steroid in the true sense. "Anabolic" means tissue building. Anabolic agents are potent promoters of protein synthesis and thus are muscle building. Anabolic steroids are usually androgenic, meaning that they enhance male characteristics—body hair, muscle, male genitalia, and deep voice. Anabolic steroids are prescription drugs with medical uses including the treatment of delayed puberty, wasting conditions, and osteoporosis. But they are often illegally used without a prescription by bodybuilders and weightlifters, as well as those competing in various sports. How to Use Natural Bodybuilding Hormones List of Anabolic Steroids In addition to these common steroids, new designer steroids are constantly being manufactured. Many on this list are sold under trade names: DanazolFluoxymesteroneFurazabolMesteroloneMethandrostenoloneMethenoloneNandroloneOxymetholoneQuinboloneOxandroloneStanozololTrenboloneTurinabol Adverse Effects Anabolic steroids can exert various effects on the body including the following: Acne and cystsAggressive behaviorBreast growth and shrinking of testicles in menEnlarged clitorisErectile dysfunctionEnlarged prostateGrowth of facial hair, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle in womenHeart problems, including heart attackLiver disease, including cancerVoice deepening and growth of body hair in women Continuous use of injected or oral steroids can cause the body to shut down its natural production of testosterone in the testes, thus shrinking them. Breasts can enlarge in men (gynecomastia) because estrogen is also in the pathway of anabolic steroid metabolism, called aromatization. Breast growth may be irreversible without plastic surgery. Steroid users often try to control this with other drugs. Human growth hormone and precursors, estrogen antagonists, and testicle maintenance substances (HCG) are in common usage. The side effects are generally worse with oral anabolic steroids and those containing 17-alky. Use by Athletes The use of anabolic steroids by athletes, especially athletes for whom speed and strength are important competitive characteristics, has been widespread. The effects of increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat are desirable in a variety of sports and in competitive bodybuilding. Steroid use in sport is illegal and athletes may be tested for them. Among many other examples, Ben Johnson, the Canadian sprinter who won the Olympic 100 meters gold medal in 1988, used stanozolol and was eventually banned. In the modern era, professional athletes tend to avoid the common steroids and use more sophisticated methods, perhaps involving natural testosterone and human growth hormone, which are more difficult to detect in abnormal amounts in urine or blood tests. Anabolic steroids are easily detected, although masking agents have been used with some success. New synthetic forms of anabolic steroids called designer steroids and testosterone act-alikes are constantly being created in laboratories, making detection by sports-doping authorities more difficult for these substances. Recreational Use Recreational use of steroids by young men, who are often naive in the toxicology and pharmacology of such substances, has grown substantially. They may also use other anabolic agents and supplements in conjunction with steroids. These recreational users may rely on supplement sellers and other unreliable sources for safety advice. How Steroids Are Taken When taken orally (in pill form), there is a greater risk of liver damage and some anabolic steroids are broken down in the stomach and digestive tract so that they do not work. Because of this, the most effective method of taking many anabolic steroids is by injection, although needles have their own health risks. Creams and gels that are absorbed through the skin are also popular. Stacking is a pattern of use of taking two or more oral or injectable types of steroids in hopes of better results. Doses are variable and may be many times the dose given therapeutically for various medical conditions. Cycling is the most popular protocol of use. Cycling involves taking a course of steroids, stopping (to let the body recover normal processes), and then commencing again. This may be done with pyramid doses, with smaller doses that are slowly increased to a peak, then slowly decreased to stop. A Word From Verywell Anabolic steroids are banned in most sports. The World Anti-Doping Authority and various national drug-testing organizations regulate the illegal use of steroids. Organized and random testing is carried out on athletes. For recreational consumers of steroids, detrimental health effects for men and women are common, especially as a result of long-term use. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tauchen J, Jurášek M, Huml L, Rimpelová S. Medicinal use of testosterone and related steroids revisited. Molecules. 2021;26(4):1032. Published 2021 Feb 15. doi:10.3390/molecules26041032 World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited at all times: Anabolic agents. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Anabolic steroids. Niedfeldt MW. Anabolic steroid effect on the liver. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2018;17(3):97-102. doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000000467 World Anti-Doping Agency. What we do.