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Androgen abuse in athletes: detection and consequences
1Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. shehzad.basaria@bmc.org
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 9, 2010
Summary
Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is widespread, with new designer androgens posing detection challenges. Continued AAS use is linked to severe health issues, including cardiovascular mortality and reproductive harm.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Sports Medicine
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) doping is prevalent in sports and among specific populations.
- The increasing availability of designer androgens necessitates advanced detection methods by anti-doping authorities.
Observation:
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has expanded its list of prohibited substances to include newer compounds like selective androgen receptor modulators.
- Mass spectrometry has advanced detection, but identifying novel designer androgens with unknown chemical signatures remains difficult.
- High-throughput bioassays may offer a solution for detecting emerging doping agents.
Findings:
- Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use is associated with serious adverse effects, including cardiovascular mortality, suppressed spermatogenesis, gynecomastia, and virilization.
- Current detection methods face challenges with novel designer androgens.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of androgen abuse should drive public and athlete education on adverse effects.
- Developing sensitive detection techniques is crucial for deterring AAS abuse.
- Further research is needed to understand and mitigate the cardiac damage and gonadal axis suppression caused by AAS.
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