HISTORY: 1930’s-40’s – “The Early Days”

The 1930’s and 40’s were the early era of anabolic steroids. Testosterone was first synthesized in a laboratory in 1931, allowing clinical experimentation with this hormone. By 1934, the first steroid for hypogonadism was introduced, Proviron from Schering Germany. By 1936 we saw the first injectable testosterone esters, as well as oral testosterone (methyltestosterone), which carried the chemical modification that would ultimately lead to most commercial oral steroids (c-17 alkylation). Scientists soon began altering the testosterone molecule itself to strengthen or weaken the androgenic, anabolic, and estrogenic properties of the hormone. By the 1940’s, various forms of testosterone and other early anabolic/androgenic steroids were being used in clinical medicine throughout the Western word. We have used these drugs for over 70 years, and actually have much more history with them than most prescription medicines currently being sold.

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HISTORY: 1950’s – “Research Decade”

The 1950’s were the most active period of time for steroid research. During this decade hundreds of effective analogs of testosterone were created, many of which would be developed into medicines. It was here that scientists also made the most progress dissociating the anabolic and androgenic effects of testosterone. Estrogenicity has been eliminated in many new structures, but complete dissociation of anabolic and androgenic effects has not been accomplished. Scientists have come to understand during this time that they probably never would be able to achieve the goal of a purely anabolic substance, as both anabolic and androgenic effects are mediated by the same receptor in the human body. Thus, all steroids have a balance of both androgenic and anabolic actions.

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HISTORY: 1960’s-70’s – Steroid Use Widespread

The use of anabolic/androgenic steroids to enhance muscle size and sports performance spread like wildfire in competitive circles during the 1960’s and 1970’s. During most of this time period, anabolic steroids were largely unknown outside of the locker rooms, and little was done to prevent their use. The International Olympic Committee doesn’t officially ban the use of these drugs until 1975, and first attempts testing in 1976. Steroid use is still effectively open given the lack of inclusion of testosterone in the list of banned medications until the early 1980’s. For all intents and purposes, steroid use was functionally allowed (due to lack of ability to test for the drugs) throughout this era. During the 1960’s and 70’s many new commercial steroids were released as well, based on research conducted in the 50’s and early 60’s, further complicating efforts to test for their use.

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HISTORY: 1980’s-90’s – Anti-Steroid Era

By the 1980’s, there is a growing sentiment to remove drug use from competitive sports. There are countless media articles calling for more accurate testing, stronger bans and penalties, and most commonly, exclaiming the excessive danger surrounding the use of these drugs. In 1984, Dr. Bob Goldman’s “Death in the Locker Room” was published. This book takes a very harsh view on the use of steroids among athletes. It includes a chapter called “How Steroids Destroy The Body”, which alarms a great many readers, and is used for decades to reference the dangers of steroid use. In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson beats favorite Carl Lewis (U.S.) in the 100 meters. Johnson sets a world record, and later tests positive for stanozolol. Johnson is stripped of his gold medal, a defining moment in the anti-steroid movement. It solidifies a false view of the “isolated steroid cheat” in the eye of the public. Many experts simply cite poor planning on the part of Johnson’s preparation team.

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HISTORY: 1987-1990 Congressional Hearings:

During the period between 1987 and 1990, Congress holds a series of investigations and hearings in the “steroid issue”. Various government agencies and private medical experts are called to testify about the potential classification of anabolic/androgenic steroids into the schedule of federally controlled substances, alongside narcotics and medications of strong abuse potential. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, The Department of Health and Human Services, and The American Medical Association all seem to acknowledge that steroids are being widely used outside of proper medical circumstances, although they oppose the scheduling of anabolic steroids, generally feeling that they do not fit the classification necessary as drugs of high abuse potential. Several medical experts also agree with the position that the drugs should not be classified as controlled substances. In spite of this, minority opinion gains the favor of Congress, and the drugs are schedules as controlled substances in February 1991. For an eye-opening view of the very important turning point in history, I urge readers to pick up Legal Muscle by steroid attorney Rick Collins.

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HISTORY: Today - Dichotomy

Today we are in a very unique period historically. There is little question that the anti-steroid sentiment is stronger than ever. It seems that almost daily there are new news stories discussing the dangers or the latest incidence of cheating. At the same time, steroid use for performance or body enhancement is much more popular than it has ever been. Many will argue that this is a result of the widespread and almost constant media attention given to these drugs. We can also see that today, the medical use of anabolic steroids is expanding a great deal. This was after a period of recession during the 1990’s, as many companies began distancing their operations from the steroid manufacturing. We currently see exponential growth in the treatment of Andropause with anabolic/androgenic steroids, and many new preparations are being introduced for this purpose, a clear sign of expected continued market growth. And what I believe is a small sign of the times, Dr. Bob Goldman, who authored Death in the Locker Room, is now an advisor to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, which supports the controlled use of anabolic steroids for anti-aging purposes.