BACKGROUND The prevalence of substance use among bodybuilding athletes has been poorly studied in Iran. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of drug use, especially anabolic steroids, among bodybuilding athletes. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in the first half of 2013 among body building athletes referring to gyms located in Kerman, Iran. Five gyms were select...

The "win at all costs" mentality fuels athletes to seek performance-enhancing substances, such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, to gain an advantage over their opponents. Nonathletes espouse this same attitude to "win" the battle of attractiveness. An enhanced understanding of anabolic-androgenic steroids and the motivations behind their abuse will arm pediatricians with the ability to engage t...

Recently developed radioimmunoassays (RIA) for the analysis of anabolic steroids and their metabolites in biological fluids were tested for cross-reactivity with other types of steroids. Results show that the degree of desirable cross-reactivity within the two classes or orally active anabolic steroids vary widely and that the antiserum for 19-Nortestosterone (the active principle of intramuscu...

Since 1999 several groups have analyzed nutritional supplements with mass spectrometric methods (GC/MS, LC/MS/MS) for contaminations and adulterations with doping substances. These investigations showed that nutritional supplements contained prohibited stimulants as ephedrines, caffeine, methylenedioxymetamphetamie and sibutramine, which were not declared on the labels. An international study p...

Recently, the use of sport supplements has become so common among most athletes. These supplements may contain undeclared substances that are banned by such international authorities as WHO, IOC and WADA. The present study, thus, is aimed at examining the final sport supplement products in terms of banned substances and measuring the adulteration level in order to prove the safety of these prod...

Inappropriate use of anabolic steroids is increasing, usually by younger males in an illicit manner. This is a well-documented case of cholestatic hepatitis attributed to use of anabolic steroids for esthetic and/or athletic purposes.

Athletes and bodybuilders have recognized for several decades that the use of anabolic steroids can promote muscle growth and strength but it is only relatively recently that these agents are being revisited for clinical purposes. Anabolic steroids are being considered for the treatment of cachexia associated with chronic disease states, and to address loss of muscle mass in the elderly, but ne...

The mean bodyweight, in kilograms, and mean weightlifting result, in points, for the ten best weightlifters at the annual Norwegian championships 1962-82 have been studied. During the 21 years, the mean bodyweight for these ten increased by 18 kg, probably due to the effect of androgens. The weightlifting results improved rapidly from 1968 onwards, probably reflecting an increasingly widespread...