Misconception that Anabolic Steroids “Enhance Looks, Strength and Speed”

I regularly read the coverage of the Signature Pharmacy steroid distribution investigation by journalist Brendan Lyons of the Albany Times Union. This is primarily because he seems to have the best access to information related to the investigation since it is an Albany-based investigation initiated by District Attorney David Soares. However, articles are not very well-balanced and regularly include baffling statements such as this (emphasis added):

While Congress is preparing to focus on baseball players alleged to have taken the drugs, medical experts are warning that steroids and human growth hormone are being illegally prescribed nationwide at an alarming rate under the misconception they will aid healing, enhance looks, strength and speed, or slow aging.

I was under the impression that the medical community finally conceded that anabolic steroids DO increase muscle size and DO improve athletic performance. The role of testosterone and growth hormone in “age management medicine” is still hotly debated and many experts see therapeutical potential for aging populations.

Dr. Shalender Bhasin, professor of medicine at Boston University and chief of endocrinology at Boston Medical Center, has dedicated his life to researching the therapeutic potential of anabolic therapies for diseased, frail, and elderly populations.

Frailty in the elderly is a huge public health problem… It’s a problem for the patient and their families. . .  The cost of lost quality of life is incalculable. There’s a huge societal benefit to developing anabolic therapies.

Dr. Bhasin is frustrated that the negative attention given to the use of anabolic steroids by athletes detracts from the therapeutic potential of anabolic therapies such as testosterone:

The steroid scandals make it seem like testosterone is not a legitimate area for research.

This is unfortunate and not helped by the style of journalism seen by Brendan Lyons that broadly discounts therapeutic potentials of steroids in his reporting.

 http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=654817

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/27/tour_de_france_testosterone_flap_shines_new_light_on_bostons_expert_in_hormones_surprising_softer_side?mode=PF

About the author

Millard

MESO-Rx | Website

Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.