The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid use amongst athletes in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use among athletes and examine the extent of their knowledge on the effects of AAS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at gyms in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during 2015. In total 600 athletes from three gyms participated in the study. The study included Saudi and non-Saudi athletes chosen by the simple random sampling method. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed to study the prevalence and assess the knowledge of athletes regarding AAS use. Frequency and percentage distributions were used to describe the data. Comparison between the subgroups was made with a chi-square test.ResultsThe percentage of AAS users was 30.5%. The age of AAS users ranged from 15 to 49 years with the majority (52.5%) belonging to age group of 25–29 years. Approximately 20% of the users admitted using AAS due to body dysmorphia as their best motivational factor; in addition, they also believed that there are no side effects of the use. Among the nonusers, 40% had appropriate knowledge, while all the AAS-users had inadequate knowledge about the adverse effects of AAS. Moreover, 77% of the users would recommend AAS to their friends but none from the nonusers. A significant difference in age distribution (df = 5, p<0.001) and knowledge (df = 4, p< 0.001) between users and nonusers was observed.ConclusionMost athletes were ignorant of the harmful side effects of the drug but still continued to use and promote it to other athletes. These athletes should intensify their knowledge and awareness regarding the use of AAS and its effects on the body.

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature

“…We included published empirical records on AAS from searches in the twenty-one countries located in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The types of records included were survey studies in Saudi Arabia (Al Bishi and Afify 2017; Al Al Nozha and Elshatarat 2017;Alharbi et al 2019;Althobiti et al 2018;Bahri et al 2017;Jabari et al 2016), United Arab Emirates , Kuwait Alsaeed and Alabkal 2015;Khullar et al 2016), Iran (Allahverdipour et al 2012;Angoorani and Halabchi 2015;Asr et al 2018;Bordbar et al 2014;Fijan et al 2018;Haerinejad et al 2016;Jalilian et al 2011;Kargarfard et al 2015;Mohammad 2014;Nakhaee et al 2013;Razavi et al 2014;Rezaei 2017;Saeidinejat et al 2017;Sepehri et al 2009;Sobhanian et al 2013), Iraq Habeeb et al 2012), Lebanon Melki et al 2015), Jordan Wazaify et al 2014), Pakistan Uddin et al 2019;Zafar et al 2018), and Sudan (Khidir and Mahmoud 2018); and conference proceedings from Bahrain ) (see Table 2). Correlational study.…”

“…Users of AAS had some knowledge of the anabolic effects of AAS and the overall AAS 'concept' such as increased muscle mass, bodybuilding effects, and increased power and muscle strength. There was however a concerning and inadequate level of knowledge around adverse effects and health problems (Al Bishi and Afify 2017;Al-Falasi et al 2008;Alharbi et al 2019;Alsaeed and Alabkal 2015;Bahri et al 2017;Jabari et al 2016;Rezaei 2017). Aggression is a reported adverse psychological effect of AAS use (Bahrke et al 1996;Bahrke et al 1990;Pope et al 2000).…”

“…Sourcing of AAS was not investigated by more than half of the included studies (Al Allahverdipour et al 2012;Al Nozha and Elshatarat 2017;Alsamani et al 2017;Angoorani and Halabchi 2015;Asr et al 2018;Bahri et al 2017;Bordbar et al 2014;Fijan et al 2018;Jabari et al 2016;Jalilian et al 2011: Karfargard et al, 2015Khullar et al 2016;Khidir and Mahmoud 2018;Melki et al 2015;Mohammad 2014;Razavi et al 2014;Rezaie, 2017;Saeidinejat et al 2017;Zafar et al 2018 Allafi et al 2019;Allahverdipour et al 2012;Al Nozha and Elshatarat 2017;Alsaeed and Alabkal 2015;Althobiti et al 2018;Angoorani and Halabchi 2015;Asr et al 2018;Bahri et al 2017;Hitti et al 2014;Hussain et al 2018;Jalilian et al 2011;Kargarfard et al 2015;Mohammad 2014;Razavi et al 2014;Wazaify et al 2014) reported on the types of AAS and associated drugs being used. The most commonly reported injectable were testosterone and nandrolone decanoate, and the most common oral AAS used were methandrostenolone and stanozolol, with the use of growth hormone reported in only four studies.…”

“…It was noted that most participants in these Eastern Mediterranean countries were aware of the anabolic effects of AAS such as increased muscle mass, bodybuilding effects, increased in body weight, and increased muscle strength (Al Bishi and Afify 2017;Al-Falasi et al 2008;Mohammad 2014). In relation to adverse effects, several papers in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iran reported an inadequate level of self-reported knowledge overall amongst participants (Al Bishi and Afify 2017;Al-Falasi et al 2008;Alharbi et al 2019;Alsaeed and Alabkal 2015;Althobiti et al 2018;Bahri et al 2017;Jabari et al 2016;Khidir and Mahmoud 2018;Mohammad 2014;Rezaei 2017;Uddin et al 2019;Wazaify et al 2014;Zafar et al 2018). Less than half of the participants of the study by Al-Falasi et al (2008) in the United Arab Emirates had any knowledge of either physical or psychological adverse effects A high number of participants of the study by Alharbi et al (2019) in Saudi Arabia answered 'I don't know' when also asked about their awareness of these adverse effects.…”

“…Bordbar et al's (2014) study in Iran found that a small number of participants believed that athletes should be allowed to use AAS for athletic performance. Jabari et al (2016) in Saudi Arabia found that 77% of participants who self-declared knowledge of the adverse effects of AAS would still recommend them to friends. Hitti et al (2014) noted that users of AAS were more likely to consume alcohol daily than non-AAS users.…”