Despite the long held belief that steroid users lose the benefit of the drugs when they stop taking them, the Norwegian research suggests that even a brief exposure to steroids could have a long-lasting effect. I think it could last 10 years but I don't have the data to back that up. It would be my speculation yes," he said. The Norwegians believe that their research calls into question the current proposal from the World Anti Doping Agency Wada to raise the penalty for dopers from two years to four.
The team has been given a grant from Wada to carry out further research on humans. They are developing the protocols for a study involving students at a sports college in Oslo. The research follows on from work that was carried out in Sweden in the past few years.
Researchers found that power lifters who have stopped taking steroids had an advantage in their sport years after they stopped using the drugs. The researchers discovered that the lifters who had once taken the drugs had a comparable number of cell nuclei in their quadriceps as athletes who were currently performing high intensity training. Belgian racing pigeons 'were doped'. However, research has not shown that steroids improve skill, agility, or athletic performance.
Steroids can also have serious psychological side effects. Some users may become aggressive or combative, believe things that aren't true delusions , or have extreme feelings of mistrust or fear paranoia. And people who use steroids also appear to be at higher risk for using other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine, often to counteract some of the negative effects of steroids.
Steroid users who inject the drugs with a needle are at risk for infection with HIV human immunodeficiency virus , the virus that causes AIDS, if they share needles with other users. People who use dirty needles are also at risk for contracting hepatitis , a liver disease, or bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart.
Some people "cycle" their steroid doses. This means they take multiple doses of steroids over a period of time, stop for a period, then start up again.
Other steroid users may "pyramid" their steroids, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing the dose, frequency, or number of anabolic steroids taken, then tapering off to complete a cycle. Users believe that stacking enhances the effects of each individual drug, pyramiding allows the body to get used to high doses of steroids, and steroid-free periods help the body recuperate from the drugs.
There is no scientific evidence to support any of these claims. A lot of people tell themselves they'll only use steroids for a season or a school year. Unfortunately, steroids can be addictive, making it hard to stop taking them.
And once users stop taking steroids, they can have withdrawal symptoms such as loss of appetite, tiredness, restlessness, insomnia, mood swings, and depression. Anabolic steroid use is illegal and banned by professional sports organizations and medical associations.
In spite of this, some athletes continue to take steroids because they think it gives them a competitive advantage. The first rigorous study of the performance-enhancing effects of testosterone in young men was not carried out until Volunteers were given weekly injections of either milligrams of testosterone enanthate or a placebo for 10 weeks bodybuilders usually take much larger doses. Performance tests done at the end of this period showed the hormone had improved muscle size and strength in those doing strength training, and to a lesser extent in those who did not exercise.
The only other comparable study, in , looked at the effects of different doses, but the volunteers were only tested after 20 weeks. In the latest study, Weatherby monitored the performance of 18 male amateur athletes over a six-week training regime. Nine were given weekly shots of testosterone enanthate at a dose of 3. Those conducting the tests did not know who was receiving testosterone and who was on the placebo. Unsurprisingly, given the low dose and short duration, no dramatic effects showed up.
The personality tests suggest that those on testosterone became less empathic and considerate towards others, and the activity of their immune systems seemed to decline slightly, but there was no significant effect on mood. There was, however, a dramatic improvement in the performance of the athletes taking testosterone. The most unexpected finding was that the greatest increases in muscle size and power occurred just three weeks into the trial see graphics.
Most professional athletes can expect to be tested from once every two years to as frequently as 20 times a year, depending on the level at which they compete.
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