Frequency of the use of anabolic drugs in bodybuilding athletes in Jahrom city

Introduction: Bodybuilding exercise is one of the most popular sports among the youth. Body builders use anabolic agents to increase their muscle growth and improve their appearance but the adverse effects of these drugs are greater than their advantages. Therefore, there was an attempt in this study to evaluate the prevalence of anabolic drugs in body builders in Jahrom city to find out appropriate strategies to control the indiscriminate use of these drugs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 299 cases of gym athletes in Jahrom city in 2012. Random cluster sampling was done. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews were performed using club officials. Prevalence and distribution of anabolic drugs as well as other variables such as the type of drug, prescription trends and individual sports in the samples under the study were examined. Results: The results of the study showed that among 299 samples studied 154 (51.5%) individuals used different types of anabolic drugs. 30 (10%) of them used testosterone, 23 (7.7%) used Somatropin, 21 (7%) used Metadianabol, and 24 (8%) of the athletes were using more than three drugs. Conclusion: Due to the outbreaks, 51.5 percent seen in the present study, and the terrible effects of anabolic drugs, there is a need to monitor the athletes more; moreover, increasing their knowledge about the risks of using such drugs is recommended.