Can you use prohormones for sports performance? Do they work, and if so, what are the risks? Cheating and doping is centre stage in the world of sport so it’s an obvious question – can you use prohormones to gain an edge in your chosen sport?
Prohormones for Sports Performance
Stepping into the ring, I knew I’d done enough. I’d trained my body to exhaustion. I’d sparred with the best fighters in Europe and had drilled technique for hours on end.
I was the fittest I’d ever been in my life and had easily dieted down to the heavy end of the middleweight class. A touch of gloves and the fight started.
If you train in sport you want to have the edge. That little something that sets you apart from the rest. Whether you consider that cheating or not depends on you and your sport. I’m not here to moralise or discuss ethics with you. Instead I’ll stick to the facts.
The question is this: can you use prohormones to help your performance in sports? If you live in a country where prohormones are legal (like the UK) then you have considerable freedom when it comes to prohormone supplementation.
In the US, prohormone supplementation in sports was common until the 2014 Obama ban. Thankfully prohormones are still legal to import, buy and sell in Britain although their usage is a bit of a taboo subject.
In the UK, the use of performance enhancing supplements and drugs is commonplace in amateur sports according to anecdotal evidence.
Another important question is: ‘Do prohormones improve sports performance’. The answer to this is a resounding ‘it depends’.
Prohormones (with which we would include designer steroids) enhance performance by the increase of anabolic hormones in your body. This can give you:
- Improved recovery
- Enhanced muscle growth
- Increased strength and aggression
If you sports performance relies on one or more of these factors then prohormones are likely to improve your sports performance.
Prohormones and Drug Tested Sports
If you take part in a drug tested sport, prohormone supplementation is probably a bad idea. Many prohormones are on the banned substances list for WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and other national sporting bodies.
Prohormones will also elevate your hormone levels which could be flagged in a blood test if outside the normal range.
Of course there are ways to avoid a positive drugs test which I’m not going to get into. The safe bet is to stay well clear if you are a drug tested athlete.
Even if prohormones aren’t banned by your sport, the chances of contamination with other banned substances is high. A 2002 US study on the use of the prohormone 1-androstenediol (1-AD) showed that the packaged product also contained other anabolic steroids.
If your sport isn’t drug tested or is an amateur sport where it’s accepted that performance enhancers are used then prohormones can form part of your training and supplement regime.
Prohormones for Sports: Summary
Can you use prohormones for sports performance? Yes you can if it is likely to support your training or recovery. If you play an endurance sport, the recovery benefits are likely to be more attractive.
If you play a power or speed based sport, the benefits of increased strength and muscle mass will be most attractive.
Taking prohormones for sports performance comes with its own risks including positive drugs tests. You should also be aware of possible contamination with other banned substances as well as taking precautions such as PCT and an On-Cycle support regime.
Jack
P.S. We covered drugs testing (including military Compulsory Drugs Tests – CDT) in an earlier post. Find it here.
