Kutscher, E. C., Lund, B. C., Perry, & P. J. (2002). Anabolic steroids: a review for the clinician. Sports Medicine, 32, 285-296.

"The number of athletes self-administering ergogenic pharmacological agents to increase their competitive edge continues to be a problem. Most athletes using anabolic steroids (AS) have acquired a crude pharmacological database regarding these drugs. Their opinions regarding steroids have been derived from their subjective experiences and anecdotal information. For this reason, traditional warnings regarding the lack of efficacy and potential dangers of steroid misuse are disregarded. A common widely held opinion among bodybuilders is that the anabolic steroid experts are the athletic gurus who for years have utilized themselves as the experimental participants and then dispensed their empirical findings. This review will address the common anabolic steroid misconceptions held by many of today's athletes by providing an evaluation of the scientific literature related to AS in athletic performance".

Implication. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) have been used in supra-doses by body builders for many years. Clinical reports of health problems associated with the overuse have been reported. However, AAS in body builders do not produce sport-appropriate improvements and their use is unlikely to improve sporting performances in athletes who use much smaller doses. The literature is consistent in stating the absence of performance-enhancement effects of AAS taken in therapeutic or lesser amounts.

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