Survey shows extent of tamoxifen abuse by health club users
Tamoxifen, ephedrine and growth hormones are widely abused by health club users, the results of a survey suggest.
Julien Barker of the health and exercise science research unit at the
University of Glamorgan surveyed 146 users of health clubs in South Wales.
In addition to abuse of
anabolic-androgenic steroids, which 66 per cent of respondents were taking,
use of tamoxifen, ephedrine and growth hormones was common, with 22,
24 and 44 per cent of respondents, respectively, reporting taking these
drugs. The use of such substances is on the increase, partly as a result
of increased availability through the internet, Dr Barker found. Tamoxifen
is used to reduce the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids, which
can cause breast development.
He also found that 10 to 20 per cent of health club users were taking
clenbuterol, insulin, human chorionic gonatrophin, diuretics and thyroid
hormone. His findings are due to be published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine later this year.
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