ABSTRACT
From being a very limited subcultural phenomenon, with its epicentre in Southern California, the use of muscle building drugs in fitness centres and gymnasiums (hereafter gyms) has spread to most parts of the westernized world. Today the use of such drugs – predominantly anabolic-androgenic steroids (hereafter anabolic steroids) – is known and considered widespread in various populations of gym users. Although it is well established that only a minority of those who use drugs in gyms are competing bodybuilders, weight- or power lifters, it is equally clear that the use of drugs in gyms has its origin in these populations (Kanayama et al., 2008; Klein, 2007; Parkinson and Evans, 2006; Pope et al., 2000).
