Counterfeit Drugs and Pharmaceutical Preparations Seized from the Black Market Among Bodybuilders
January 2012
in “
Annales de Toxicologie Analytique
”
Studysummary This study found that among bodybuilder-intended drugs from the black market, 33.8% of labeled products and 52.5% of steroidal oily solutions contained ingredients not matching their labels.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
This study aimed to identify active ingredients in counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical preparations seized from the black market among bodybuilders. A total of 74 labeled products and 2 unlabeled preparations were analyzed using liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study found that 33.8% of the labeled products did not match their labels, with anabolic androgenic steroids being commonly found, especially in oil-based injectables. Of the 40 steroidal oily solutions, 52.5% had active ingredients that did not match the label, with one preparation lacking an active compound and 20 containing different or additional active ingredients, often in smaller quantities, suggesting contamination. Active ingredients identified included methandrostenolone, sildenafil, tamoxifen, and others in various forms such as tablets and injectables. The study concluded that counterfeit packaging from underground labs was visually indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical packaging.
