Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Testosterone Precursors

Abstract

This article reviews the recent literature on the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) for performance enhancement. Recent studies utilizing supraphysiologic doses of testosterone have demonstrated increases in strength and improvements in body composition, despite earlier assertions by the medical community that steroids were ineffective as ergogenic aids. Although data that support the theory of conversion of prohormones, such as androstenediol, to testosterone in the body is available, support for testosterone precursors alone as ergogenic aids is lacking. Drug testing laboratories are utilizing new techniques that analyze carbon-13 levels of urinary steroids to detect exogenously administered steroids as well as the use of urine-manipulating agents. Investigations that seek to refute athletes' various claims for positive drug tests are ongoing. The recent discovery, characterization, and development of a urine test for tetra-hydro-gestrinone, a designer steroid, has brought the issue of performance enhancement once again into the public spotlight. Increasing attention is also being paid to the long-term effects of AAS abuse, as more authors characterize the changes to hematologic, hepatic, lipid, and hormone profiles as a result of years of steroid use. Although the understanding of AAS and testosterone precursors as performance-enhancing drugs continues to advance, there are likely to be more revelations as scientific investigations continue.

Dietary supplement use in adolescents

“…Many studies in the past year reviewed or examined the efficacy of various types of supplements said or believed to enhance performance [18 • , [19][20][21][22]], yet few mention the impact of these substances on adolescents. Of those that did examine the effects of supplementation on adolescents specifically, two focused on creatine [23 •• , 24 • ], one on iron [25 • ], and one on vitamin-mineral [26 • ] supplementation in an athletic context.…”

Steroid Prohormones: Effects on Body Composition in Athletes

“…Anabolic steroid usage has been recognized as a serious health and ethical problem among athletes for several decades (Foster & Housner 2004). Numerous examples of steroid usage rules violations have been highly publicized and have lead to the suspension and stripping of medals from international athletes, as well as many professional athletes (International Olympic Committee 1997; Wroble et al 2002).…”

“…Use of anabolic steroids is widespread in the athletic environment, particularly in power events and disciplines (e.g. football, track and field, body building, power lifting) (Foster & Housner 2004). It seems that athletes have used AAS for more than 50 years, with first anecdotal evidence of use of animal testicular extracts even in 1890s (Yesalis 1999).…”

Optical method for the screening of doping substances

“…Additionally, it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect doping substances in the blood or in urine samples, because the chemical structure is becoming more and more closer to the compounds naturally occurring in the human organism [5,[9][10][11].…”