LEGAL STEROIDS 101

It seems that one can no longer read or hear anything, especially where athletics, athletes, and sports are concerned, without hearing the word “steroids”. But, just what are steroids exactly? A very simple definition is “fatty substances which can naturally be found in the body, or can be artificially created.”

Steroids usually fall into one of three categories:

NATURAL steroids include hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, sterols, and cholesterol. The body makes these on its own, usually in the correct amounts.

CORTICOSTEROIDS, such as corticosterone and cortisol, are naturally-occurring. Others, such as prednisone and cortisone, are synthetic, or “man-made”.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS are synthetic hormones that, when introduced to the body, acts almost exactly like the natural male hormone testosterone. These are the ones most commonly mentioned in references to steroid use in athletics, athletes, and sports.

Steroids are used to treat a variety of illnesses and ailments, or are sometimes given in conjunction with other medication, such as antibiotics, in order to enhance their effectiveness.

Now that the word “steroid” and the more commonly-used terms have been identified, attention can be given to the term legal steroids. In its proper setting, this term means any steroids, natural or synthetic, which are properly used for medical or pharmaceutical purposes Sometimes, however, “legal steroids” no longer become a term, but, rather, an “issue”. This is especially true in the sports field.

The problem may not be whether or not steroids—natural, synthetic, anabolic, or otherwise—is “legal” in the true sense of the word. If prescribed or recommended by health care professionals, and used in the manner in which they were intended, for the true purpose in which they were intended, then that is fine.

It is a known fact that steroids, both natural and anabolic, but most often anabolic, are used to improve performance in sports and athletics, or to “boost” what nature has already provided. Both professional and amateur athletes and sports participants do this. However, there are rules and regulations which clearly state whether or not this is allowable, and in what, if any, circumstances.

The decision to incorporate steroid use for performance enhancement or physical improvement is, and should be, personal. All factors should be weighed.

And, yes, it is true that the Internet has provided the means whereby one can view advertisements for, and purchase, steroids online. When contemplating the decision, one should be aware that local, state, national, and international laws exist regarding the sale and purchase of steroids online.

Availability does not imply permission. The prospective buyer must be aware of the laws that pertain to this in regards to one’s location at the time of purchase.