Counterfeit Drugs and Pharmaceutical Preparations Seized From the Black Market Among Bodybuilders
January 2012
TLDR Counterfeit drugs for bodybuilders often contain incorrect or contaminated ingredients and look like real products.
The study aimed to identify active ingredients in counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical preparations seized from the black market among bodybuilders. It analyzed 74 labeled products and found that 25 (33.8%) did not match the label. Anabolic androgenic steroids were commonly found, especially in oil-based injectables, with 21 out of 40 steroidal solutions (52.5%) not matching the label. Some preparations contained additional or different active ingredients, often in smaller quantities, suggesting contamination. Active ingredients identified included methandrostenolone, sildenafil, tamoxifen, and others. The study concluded that counterfeit packaging from underground labs was visually indistinguishable from legitimate products.