Anabolic drugs are technically any drug that promotes muscle growth at a cellular level. Anabolic drugs are most usually found in steroid form and injected by athletes and body builders to enhance their performance and their physique.
Anabolic steroids, known as anabolic drugs when synthetic, are steroid hormones related to the hormone testosterone. These anabolic drugs increase protein synthesis within cells, which causes anabolism.
Anabolism is the build up of cellular tissues, especially muscles. Therefore, if you take anabolic drugs, you will experience a build up of muscles. Often, body builders and sports figures like to take anabolic drugs because they make them perform better in their sport.
The use of anabolic drugs in the sports world is very controversial because many people feel that they give athletes an unfair advantage over athletes that train without the aid of synthetic steroids. Many people feel that gaining such an advantage synthetically does not represent good sportsmanship.
Other people argue that the use of anabolic drugs is no different than gaining an advantage by eating large quantities of high protein foods. These proponents of anabolic drugs feel that any means of building muscle and strengthening athletes is ethical as long as the athlete ends up with the muscles and the strength.
Because of this controversy, all major sporting bodies ban the use of anabolic drugs. Major sporting bodies include the WTA, ITF, International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the European Athletic Association and the National Football League.
Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in the United States, and as such, you must obtain a prescription from a physician for their use. Some of the medical reasons that a physician might prescribe anabolic steroids include leukemia, kidney failure, pediatric growth failure, AIDS (for appetite stimulation), bone loss, hormone replacement and gender dysmorphia.
Sometimes, people obtain anabolic steroids through means of a black market and use them non-medically. Non-medical uses for anabolic steroids include, body building, male contraceptive, and body enhancers for sports purposes.
Even though sports bodies do not allow it, people use anabolic steroids for sports purposes. Many athletes that compete in cricket, track & field, weightlifting, shot put, cycling, baseball, wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing, football, etc. use anabolic steroids illegally.
