What Are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are drugs that are used to simulate the effects of male sex hormones. While some uses of the drugs are benign, steroids are also used surreptitiously by some athletes to gain unfair advantages in strength and endurance.

History of anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids were first synthesized in the 1930s, and approved for use in America by the Food and Drug Administration in 1958. However, this drug was already used in Soviet Bloc countries several years prior to enhance the performance of Olympic athletes.

Medical uses of anabolic steroids

Steroids have many uses in the medical field, including hormone replacement therapy for men with low testosterone levels and patients undergoing female-to-male sex reassignment surgery. Other uses include increasing muscle mass for sufferers of cancer and AIDS.

Misuse of anabolic steroids

For decades, anabolic steroids were used for less-than-altruistic purposes. Weightlifters, in particular, have used the drug to gain an unfair advantage over the competition. Other professional sports such as football, cycling and baseball have also experienced problems with steroid use.

Legality of anabolic steroids

Steroids are classified as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, and are banned by every major sport as well as the International Olympic Committee. A widespread black market for the drug thrives.

While anabolic steroids have many benign medical uses, they are often misused. Although some athletes are guilty of using steroids to unfairly gain advantages in strength, many sick people have benefited from the strength-building properties of the drug.