If we do an open search in the Anti-Doping Database, there is one substance that stands out against all others - Stanozolol.
The substance, as of September 2023, has been involved in more than 1200 doping cases. Track and field is the sport with the most cases with more than 3000. 1485 weightlifters has been banned after using the substance. And surprisingly, in third spot we have 1368 cyclists.
So, what is Stanozolol?
Stanozolol is a synthetic steroid derived from testosterone, with both anabolic and androgenic properties. It was first introduced in 1962 and is commonly used to enhance muscle growth.
Stanozolol was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962 and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use.
The steroid is approved for human use in treating conditions like anaemia and angioedema, which causes episodes of swelling in various body parts.
Any known athletes who have tested positive for Stanozolol?
Several athletes have tested positive for Stanozolol throughout the years. Notable cases include Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who was stripped of his gold medal in the 100 meters at the 1988 Olympic Games.
In 2015 the steroid became popular among baseball-players in the US Pro-league, Major League Baseball. Four MLB-pitchers, Jenrry Mejia (Mets), Ervin Santana (Minnesota), Arodys Vizcaino (Atlanta) and David Rollins (Seattle).
In 2023 Welington Santana, a free agent, with a possible contract with the Orioles, tested positive for the substance and was suspended for 56 games as a result.
New test catches more athletes
In 2012 an improved test method had been developed at the Anti-Doping laboratory in Cologne and in Russia. The result of the improved test was that more athletes than normal were caught using it.
And when the time came to re-analyse samples collected at the Olympic Games in London and Beijing, Stanozolol, were one that sent most athletes into long suspensions.
Before the Games in the UK and China the number of athletes who were banned for using the substance was around 80. In 2012 a total of 114 athletes tested positive for the steroid. The following year more than 140 athletes were banned.
The drug that opened up the eyes of IOC
Up until the Olympic Games in Seoul in South Korea, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had more or less hoped that the problem with doping in sport would disappear. But when the Canadian sprinter Johnson ran the 100 meter in 9.79 seconds in September, 1988, they couldn't just sit still.
The IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said the following in a statement after the positive test: "This is a blow for the Olympic Games and the Olympic movement. However, it shows that the IOC was right in the firm stand it has adopted to keep the Games clean."
A decade would however pass until IOC and the sport movement decided to set up the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). And it wasn't doping at the Olympic Games that was the reason. It was the Festina scandal during the Tour de France in 1998 that was the final drop.
Why do athletes use Stanozolol?
Stanozolol is classified as a prohibited substance by IOC and WADA. And with the improved test method launched in 2012, athletes who uses this substance will be caught. And they will get long suspensions.
So, why do athletes use the steroid?
First and foremost to build muscles. Which is why the substance is very popular in sports like bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting. According to online sources, Stanozolol build muscles fast.
The substance can also be used when recovering from injuries.
Remember, the use of Stanozolol and any other performance-enhancing drugs is strictly forbidden in sports. To ensure clean, fair, and safe competitions, athletes should adhere to anti-doping regulations and compete based on their natural abilities and talents.
Disclaimer: This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any medication or supplement. And always check your medicines with the Prohibited list
Sources
The information provided in this post is sourced from:
News reports
- AP: IOC using new steroid test on Turin doping samples
- Reuters: Doping: Georgian Modzmanashvili fails doping test from London 2012
- Newsweek: East Germany's Steroid Shame
- Discus thrower Navjeet Kaur Dhillon fails dope test, suspended for three years
- Factbox: Steroid stanozolol was Johnson's downfall
- Orioles prospect from 2022 suspended following positive drug test