Manufacturers

In the 1960s to early 1980s, anabolic steroids gained popularity for performance enhancement, especially in bodybuilding, football, and athletics. Steroid use spread quickly, causing an illegal market to grow. Pharmaceuticals were diverted into gyms, making steroids widely available. Despite being classified as prescription drugs, the penalties for illegal distribution were light, enabling the growth of this underground market. In 1985 the FDA restricted the sale of anabolic steroids like methandrostenolone (Dianabol), marking a major shift in the steroid market. This caused more smuggling and fake goods, as local sellers had less stock. In 1988, the US made a law "Anti-Drug Abuse Act" to stop the spread of anabolic steroids. By 1989, authorities had shut down major illicit steroid sources, seizing over million in drugs. Between 1992-1999, anabolic steroids in the U.S. were predominantly smuggled from countries like India, Mexico, and Eastern Europe due to higher costs and demand. After the 1990 Anabolic Steroid Control Act, imports surged from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Eastern Europe, and Thailand, where regulations were lax, making them major suppliers. By 2006 anabolic steroids had become more heavily scrutinized, leading to a shift in the market. The steroid trade went underground, with raw powders being smuggled in bulk rather than finished products. Underground labs flourished, producing counterfeit or uniquely branded steroids, flooding the black market.

Underground labs producing steroids with no regulatory oversight. The quality of their products varies greatly, and there are four main levels of production.

Pharmaceutical Quality (Rare): Some labs contract offshore pharmaceutical facilities that follow GMP guidelines, but these products are rare and hard to import, especially in the U.S.

Good Quality: Many underground labs strive for purity, using pharmaceutical-grade carriers and antimicrobial agents, with frequent pre-production testing and some filtration methods.

Common Quality: Labs mix raw materials with varying purity levels, using hand-crimping machines and basic filtration, which increases the risk of contamination and adverse reactions.

Low Quality: These labs often use cheap materials and minimal sterilization, leading to high contamination risk, infections, and severe side effects.

Bodybuilders must be aware of the risks involved when choosing underground steroids due to potential contaminants and inconsistent quality.