NSCA
Position Statement: A-nabolic-androgenic S-teroid Use by Athletes
NSCA Position
Statement - PDF
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) believes in and supports
the premise that participation in an athletic event should always be based on the
highest moral and ethical standards and promote, in every way, the concept of fair
play. The use of any substance to enhance performance in ways contrary to these
goals will not be sanctioned or condoned by the NSCA.
It is, therefore, the position of the NSCA that:
1. The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) by athletes is illegal and punishable under federal law. The NSCA also considers the promotion or use of AAS
unethical and contrary to the goals of competitive sports. The effectiveness of AAS
for promotion of muscle mass and strength is anecdotally well founded, however,
this is not the basis for the NSCA position.
2. Strength and conditioning professionals must not condone, in public or private, the
use of AAS. There is no room for compromise on this issue. The pervasive public
view that strength athletes are achieving success only through AAS use denies the
non-using athletes full respect and fairness they have earned through proper
conditioning. The perception that strength and conditioning professionals promote
the use and supply of AAS to athletes has seriously tarnished the reputation of this
profession.
3. Exogenous androgens may provide users competitive advantages, including
increased body mass, increased lean body mass, decreased body fat and increased strength and power, which may directly or indirectly enhance
performance.
4. Those who use AAS face increased health risks, which are not yet fully defined.
These risks can include a variety of non-lethal cosmetic effects such as acne,
balding and gynecomastia. Liver disease and adverse effects on blood lipids are
known risks associated with the use of some AAS. Other possible risks include
stroke and myocardial infraction. Temporary infertility has also been noted with
some AAS use. Most oral AAS present special risks to the liver and cardiovascular
system, while injectable forms of AAS may lead to local infection or nerve
damage. In women, some of the masculinizing effects from AAS may be permanent. It is also possible that AAS use by adolescent males may prematurely
arrest longitudinal bone growth, resulting in a decreased adult stature.
Psychological aberrations are also possible.
5. Both the risks and the benefits of AAS have been exaggerated by the lay press
and general public. Athletes and coaches alike are confused about what is fact
and what is myth concerning AAS. The NSCA encourages honest and full disclosure of known risks and benefits of AAS in drug education programs in an
attempt to stem the increasing abuse of AAS.
6. The NSCA encourages survey efforts to increase our knowledge and
understanding of the use and prevalence of AAS in scholastic, collegiate and
professional athletics. The NSCA also supports further properly reviewed and
conducted research into the short-and long-term health risks associated with AAS
use.
7. If drug testing is to be the deterrent to AAS usage, then testing should equally
encompass all levels of athletics.
8. All those concerned about AAS usage and supportive of athletic competition
(coaches, athletes, parents, fans, sports administrators, alumni, news media, etc.)
should reevaluate their beliefs about sport. In this way, the accountability of AAS
usage may be more clearly defined. A win-at-all-cost philosophy may create
enormous pressure for the competitor. The competitor's response to this pressure
may include AAS use, directly determining the type of role model projected to
youth-the athletes of tomorrow.
9. It will always be the aim of the NSCA to work within the organization and with
other athletic and professional organizations to discourage AAS use and promote
athletic performance based on proper training methods and fair play.
10. The NSCA, therefore, denounces the use of AAS for the purpose of performance
enhancement. It further denounces the recommendation, distribution, administration or personal use of AAS by NSCA members. It does, however,
advocate the use of proper methods of conditioning and realistic goal setting,
proper nutrition and other ethical and legal practices to achieve optimal athletic
performance.
Source: National
Strength and Conditioning Association - http://www.nsca-lift.org
