This is one of the most researched questions in relation to prohormone supplementation: are prohormones legal in the UK?
However, other than a few forum posts asking the same question, no one seems to know or be able to provide a clear answer. So what’s the deal? Is it legal to buy and use prohormones in the UK?
Thankfully we’re here to explode your mind with the knowledge you need. Prohormone Expert is UK based so we’re in a great position to give you the information you need to make smart choices.
Important: Nothing that you read here is medical or legal advice. If you’re stupid enough to break the law or damage your body after reading this website, that’s on you.
Always get medical advice before changing your supplements or training regime.
The UK is Pretty Liberal When it Comes to Anabolic Steroids and Supplements
Yes that’s right – it’s actually legal to import, buy and use anabolic steroids in the UK as long as they are for personal use. Selling them on makes you a drug dealer. Which is illegal.
But what about prohormones? Are prohormones legal in the UK?
Despite the fact that many prohormones are similar in their effects to medical anabolic steroids they don’t have any function in medicine. That’s because they have been developed exclusively for sports performance.
So they are classed as supplements along with your usual range of fat burners, protein powders, vitamins and pre-workouts.
Here’s what the UK governing body on supplements has to say:
The majority of food supplements are covered by food law, but where they have a medicinal effect or make a medicinal claim (i.e. to prevent, treat or cure any disease or medical condition), they must be licensed under medicines legislation, which is the responsibility of MHRA. (Source)
So, like over-the-counter fat burners, pre-workouts etc, prohormones don’t make any medical claims or treat any diseases (you might have seen that written on your supplement packaging).
So they don’t come under the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) remit.
However that’s not the whole story: Some prohormones have been banned in the past by the UK Government. These include 1-AD (1-Androstenediol) and 4AD (4-Adrostenediol) which are now illegal to sell in the UK.
That doesn’t mean that all the legal prohormones are weak and ineffective – in fact the opposite is true.
The UK Government has banned some prohormones that have little or no benefit for sports performance while other very effective compounds are still widely available.
One possible reason behind this is that the Government currently need to ban individual compounds (this happened recently with 1,3 Dimethylamine which was used in pre-workouts and some fat burners).
This is different to the law in the U.S. where the Obama administration levied a ban across all prohormones, designer steroids and ‘compounds that mimic their effects’.
As prohormones can have their chemical structure manipulated slightly but still have the same effect, it would be difficult for the UK government to enforce an effective ban.
Another possible reason is that there aren’t hundreds of people dying every year from prohormone misuse, so it’s not exactly a political hot potato. It takes hours and hours of political time to get new legislation through – if it’s not needed, politicians won’t bother (in theory).
This coupled with the current legal status of anabolic steroids (Class C drugs) means that the UK’s current position on prohormones is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
One risk would have been an EU wide embargo on prohormones and similar products but with Brexit, this looks unlikely.
Summary – Don’t Confuse ‘Legal’ with Safe
Are prohormones legal in the UK? The short answer is: Yes, some prohormones are legal to buy and use in the UK. But…
Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Prohormone supplementation is big boy stuff and shouldn’t be attempted by silly, spotty teens who don’t know any better. If you’re a young lifter or don’t want to supplement with designer steroids or prohormones, there are other products to try.
If you are planning on running a prohormone cycle you should make sure you use cycle support and run a proper post cycle therapy to avoid unwanted side effects.
Remember: This is for information purposes only and not intended as medical or legal advice. Always check the law of your land before buying prohormones and never urinate directly into the wind.
Be smart and train hard.
Jack
P.S. What is a good prohormone stack for beginners? Here’s our recommendation.
P.P.S We personally buy from and recommend Predator Nutriton for prohormones and PCT supplements. Check them out here.
