The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Male Strength Athletes Who Use Non-prescribed Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Abstract

Background: One sub-population potentially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are strength athletes who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). We examined links between disruption in AAS use and training due to the pandemic and mental health outcomes in this population, hypothesising: (a) the pandemic would be linked with reduced training and AAS use; and (b) athletes perceiving greater impact on their training and AAS use would report increases in detrimental mental health outcomes.Methods: Male strength athletes using AAS (N = 237) from 42 countries completed an online questionnaire in May 2020. A sub-sample (N = 90) from 20 countries participated again 4 months later. The questionnaire assessed pre-pandemic and current AAS use and training, alongside several mental health outcomes.Results: At Time 1, most participants perceived an impact of the pandemic on AAS use (91.1%) and/or training (57.8%). Dependent t-tests demonstrated significant reductions in training frequency (t = 7.78; p < 0.001) and AAS dose (t = 6.44; p < 0.001) compared to pre-pandemic. Linear regression showed the impact of the pandemic on training was a significant positive predictor of excessive body checking (B = 0.35) and mood swings (B = 0.26), and AAS dose was a significant positive predictor of anxiety (B = 0.67), insomnia (B = 0.52), mood swings (B = 0.37). At Time 2, fewer participants perceived an impact of the pandemic on AAS use (29.9%) and/or training (66.7%) than at Time 1. Training frequency (t = 3.02; p < 0.01) and AAS dose (t = 2.11; p < 0.05) were depressed in comparison to pre-pandemic. However, AAS dose had increased compared to Time 1 (t = 2.11; p < 0.05). Linear regression showed the impact of the pandemic on training/AAS use did not significantly predict any mental-health outcomes. However, AAS dose was a significant negative predictor of depressive thoughts (B = −0.83) and mood swings (B = −2.65).Conclusion: Our findings showed impact of the pandemic on the training and AAS use, reflected in reduced training frequency and AAS dose. However, whilst we detected some short-term consequential effects on mental health, these did not appear to be long-lasting.

Training Patterns and Mental Health of Bodybuilders and Fitness Athletes During the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The physical activity, subjective training intensity and subjective performance of BoFA dropped significantly during lockdown. The drop from pre-lockdown values in physical activity, subjective training intensity and performance is plausible and is in line with other research that has been published on the effects of the lockdown on this particular population (Zoob Carter et al, 2021 ). This represents a pattern similar to other studies, which reported a reduced training frequency, shorter training sessions and lower sport-specific intensity in many other sports (Washif et al, 2021 ).…”

Potential Association between the Use of Anabolic Steroids and COVID-19 Infection

“…In another study, it was suggested that COVID-19 risks could be reduced in the elderly by hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and testosterone) due to the anti-inflammatory actions of sex hormones and the anabolic actions of testosterone [ 22 ]. Another study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had clearly affected the use of AAS by reducing AAS doses and training frequency as compared to pre-pandemic [ 25 ].…”

Public health concerns and increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease through androgen use

“…Given that the specific nature of COVID-19 characteristically elicits immune responses that can lead to hyperinflammation, we took the position – from a suppositional basis – that the use of androgen could conceivably accelerate, exacerbate, or even initiate significantly more dangerous responses to COVID-19. Of note, whilst at the time of press, there was some emerging anecdotal and journalistic evidence, there were no widely available case studies or peer reviewed resources that had clearly demonstrated a link between androgen use and increased risk of mortality or disease severity from COVID-19, as well as associated mental health challenges [ 25 ].…”