History of Anabolic Steroids in Sports
When were anabolic steroids discovered?
Until 1935, no one knew that anabolic steroids were associated with the accumulation of muscle tissue. In that year, two researchers experimenting on dogs discovered that testosterone given under certain conditions would increase muscle mass.(1,2) Hitler may have given some of his troops anabolic steroids to increase their aggressiveness, although this is not well- documented.(3) The current history of anabolic steroids as abusable drugs began in 1954 among Olympic weightlifters.(1,2,4) In 1956, Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) was first marketed in the United States, clearing the way for the use of anabolics by U. S. athletes.(4) At first, only world-class athletes in high- strength sports such as weight lifting abused anabolics.(5,6) Among Olympic athletes, anabolic steroids were a problem as long ago as 1964.(6) Athletes and their trainers developed high dose, multiple-drug regimens that were not based on scientific research. These methods of use were passed by word of mouth from one training group to another. Even today, the use of many types of steroids in high doses has never been examined in controlled scientific studies.(5) Anabolic steroid abusers mistrust scientific opinions about high-dose steroid use.(7) When it was first noticed as a growing problem, some scientists and public officials stated that there was no evidence that steroids caused muscle growth or improved performance, and that use of large amounts would lead to dramatic, toxic side effects in all users. These pronouncements went against the common knowledge and experience of the athletes, who did not see large numbers of their steroid-using friends dropping dead.(6,8) Scientific information sources were thus discredited among athletes. As their reputation grew, anabolic abuse spread to other sports. Today, the only Olympic sports in which anabolic steroids have not been detected are women's field hockey and figure skating.(1) Steroid abuse spread beyond the Olympics throughout the 1970's and 1980's. In 1983, nineteen athletes were disqualified from the Olympics for steroid abuse.(9) A 1970 survey of five American universities showed that 15% of college athletes were steroid abusers.(10,11) By 1984, 20% of college athletes were using steroids.(11) In 1975, anabolic abuse in Arizona high schools was 0.7% over all, with 4% of athletes admitting steroid use.(10) A 1986 survey in Minneapolis revealed a 3% average rate of steroid abuse in grades 8, 10, and 12.(10) In one of these high schools, the rate of use was 8% in senior males.(10) In a 1988 survey in a suburban Chicago school, 6.5% of male students admitted taking steroids, and 2.5% of female students admitted steroid use.(12) Surveys in 1989 estimate that there are 500,000 adolescent steroid abusers nationwide, and as many as 1 million steroid abusers of all ages in the United States.(6,10,13) In November 1990, U. S. Federal Law reclassified all anabolic steroids as Controlled Dangerous Substances.(14)
1. Kleiner SM. Performance-enhancing aids in sport - health
consequences and nutritional alternatives. J Amer Coll Nutr
2. Bergman R, Leach RE. The use and abuse of anabolic steroids in
olympic - caliber athletes. Clin Orthopaed Rel Res 1985
3. Pope HG, Katz DL. Homicide and near-homicide by anabolic
steroid users. Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 1990
4. Windsor R, Dumitru D. Prevalence of anabolic steroid use by
male and female adolescents. Med Sci Sports Exercise 1989
5. Wilson JD. Androgen abuse by athletes. Endocrine Reviews
6. Yesalis CE, Wright JE, Bahrke MS. Epidemiological and policy
issues in the measurement of the long term health effects of
anabolic-androgenic steroids. Sports Medicine 1989
7. Ambre JJ. Medical and nonmedical uses of anabolic-androgenic
steroids. J Am Med Assoc 1990 Dec 12;264(22):2923-7.
8. Knuth UA, Maniera H, Nieschlag E. Anabolic steroids and semen
parameters in bodybuilders. Fertility And Sterility 1989
9. Wagner JC. Abuse of drugs used to enhance athletic
performance. American Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy 1989
10. Buckley WE, Yesalis CE, Friedl KE, Anderson WA, Streit AL,
Wright JE. Estimated prevalence of anabolic steroid use among
male high school seniors. J Am Med Assoc 1988 Dec
11. Smith DA, Perry PJ. The efficacy of ergogenic agents in
athletic competition. part 1: androgenic-anabolic steroids.
Annals Pharmacother 1992 Apr;26:520-8.
12. Terney R, McLain LG. The use of anabolic steroids in high
school students. American Journal Of Diseases Of Children 1990
13. Kashkin KB, Kleber HD. Hooked on hormones - an anabolic
steroid addiction hypothesis. J Am Med Assoc 1989 Dec
14. Brower KJ. Addictive potential of anabolic steroids.
Psychiatric Annals 1992 Jan;22(1):30-4.
by Trent Tschirgi, R. Ph.
(c) 1992 University of Maryland Office of Substance Abuse Studies.
All Rights Reserved.
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