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Practice Guideline
. 2012 Sep-Oct;47(5):567-88.
doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-47.5.08.

National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: anabolic-androgenic steroids

Robert D Kersey  1 , Diane L Elliot, Linn Goldberg, Gen Kanayama, James E Leone, Mike Pavlovich, Harrison G Pope Jr; National Athletic Trainers' Association
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: anabolic-androgenic steroids

Robert D Kersey et al. J Athl Train. 2012 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objective: This manuscript summarizes the best available scholarly evidence related to anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) as a reference for health care professionals, including athletic trainers, educators, and interested others.

Background: Health care professionals associated with sports or exercise should understand and be prepared to educate others about AAS. These synthetic, testosterone-based derivatives are widely abused by athletes and nonathletes to gain athletic performance advantages, develop their physiques, and improve their body image. Although AAS can be ergogenic, their abuse may lead to numerous negative health effects.

Recommendations: Abusers of AAS often rely on questionable information sources. Sports medicine professionals can therefore serve an important role by providing accurate, reliable information. The recommendations provide health care professionals with a current and accurate synopsis of the AAS-related research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of steroid hormones with three 6-carbon rings and one 5-carbon ring.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Biochemical pathways of the human androgens: androstenediol, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and testosterone.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structure of testosterone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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