anabolic steroids

Steroid hor­mones related to the male sex hor­mone testosterone. They promote the development of masculine char­acteristics and increase muscle growth. Anabolic steroids have been used medically for various conditions but are also used illegally by sports­men and women and by body­builders. They have a number of deleterious side effects and are a con­trolled drug in the UK and many other countries. Their use is banned by nearly all major sports regulating bodies. They can be detected in blood and urine by gas chromatography ­mass spectroscopy.