It's unfortunate that this commonly held belief has been propagated on soooo many AAS forums RT.
Yea and I'm quite sure I reviewed the article your referring to as it was posted on Meso a while back. However bc the data cited was extrapolated from studies which evaluated the influence of AAS on collagen PRECURSORS the results must NOT be applied in an organ specific manner. The point being, since ALL cells require collagen to varying degrees research that determines the impact of AAS using serum collagen or it's precursors, say's next to nothing about how their use effects joint or MS healing.
That's to say while AAS DO enhance collagen synthesis there is NO EVIDENCE these agents specifically enhance collagen production within SKM or accelerate it's incorporation into articular collagenous structures such as ligaments, tendons, fascial structure and most certainly have no effect on the generation of "new" hyaline cartilage.
There is NO EVIDENCE AAS specifically enhance articular collagen or SKM synthesis mate.
Fact is existing data supports the antithesis, in that AAS are more likely to be deleterious with respect to articular cartilage synthesis.