Why using steroids is not hunky-dory

March 20, 2007

New Delhi: Rocky Balboa punches in a good sock, but he isn't so rocking with reports of the 60-year old Sylvester Stallone being caught up in a steroid scandal in Australia.

He was found to be carrying vials of the growth hormone, Somatotropin. But he's not alone, for there has been a history of alleged steroid abuse in sports like cricket and weightlifting and these days even at some local gyms.

Testosterone is the male sex hormone occurring naturally in the body while steroids are synthetic substances similar to testosterone.

Anabolic steroids or muscle building steroids are never prescribed by doctors to young and healthy people. Without a prescription from a doctor, steroids are illegal.

Some of the most common anabolic steroids taken today are Nandrolone, Oxymethylone and Testestrone derivatives.

They are easily available as OTC and cost between Rs 100 to 500 only.

While they may pack those muscles, they come with a stack of side effects like mood swings, hallucinations and depression.

Hormone imbalances can cause gradual loss of masculine traits. The British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that the use of growth hormone to boost athletic performance can lead to diabetes and their abuse can be fatal too.

There are also body-building supplements available in the market like creatinine and whey. While these are essentially proteins and not anabolic steroids, they are not approved by the FDA and have to be taken in moderation.

So while Sylvester managed to pack himself and make a film, others may not be so lucky. If you wish to build your body, then stick to training supervision and your doctor's advice.