# Dwarfs germans and steroids (medical questions) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarfs-germans-and-steroids-medical-questions/126034 "2002-08-29T02:57:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarfs-germans-and-steroids-medical-questions/126034/1 "2002-08-29T02:57:42Z")
DR Z a Commentator at CNNSI wrote: > [@](#): > > \*We don’t exactly know just how bad they are for one’s body(steroids). All the evidence is anecdotal. Doctors I’ve spoken to say that in order to get a true picture you’ve got to do a 20-year study, and it hasn’t been done because they can’t get enough athletes to admit that they’ve taken them. The East Germans did such studies but they never released the results, probably because some of their applications were so horrendous, such as the dwarf steroids they used to keep female gymnasts small - **questions** Is there a lack of serious research on damage steroids do to a body? Where did the idea of East Germans monkeying with their athletes come about? Was there not also a stink about the Chinese Olympic team as well? Where can I find Steroids 101 type information? it seems I am vastly ignorant on this subject (among many) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarfs-germans-and-steroids-medical-questions/126034/2 "2002-08-29T05:10:58Z")
Research into the damage caused by ingesting steroids is limited by the ethical problems of working with humans. Besides that, there’s really not much incentive, intellectual or financial, for anyone to find out the gritty details of long term abuse. This looks to be about a 300 level [Introduction to Steroids](http://www.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/steroid-hormones.html). Athletes have likely used steroids since they first became available in the 1930’s. Since the chemicals were first isolated, purified and synthesized \* because of\* their biological effects, it’s fair to say that the idea of “monkeying with people” was an implicit part of their development.The application of steroids to athletes required no additional idea. [This review article in Sports Medicine](http://www.mesomorphosis.com/articles/bahrke/bahrke01.htm) states: > [@](#): > > The first ergogenic use of anabolic-androgenic steroids was reported to have occurred in the 1950s among weightlifters and bodybuilders (). Since that time their use has permeated a myriad of sports (). Payne (1979) suggested that the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids was a significant problem at the 1964 Olympic Games. I think the stink was over the Chinese olympic swim team. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarfs-germans-and-steroids-medical-questions/126034/3 "2002-08-29T14:54:01Z")
Steroid damage is known through actual legit medical use. Easy one: stunted growth if given before puberty. There is no doubt about this one. Some kids were/are given steroids before puberty because of life threatening issues. Stunted growth is obviously a problem, often leaving the person looking like a 10-12 year old even as adults…right down to the voice. As if there bodies were stuck in time before puberty, but they are adults. Hair loss, temper, and anything else associated with elevated levels of testoterone. Well documented, but not exactly handy. After effects: body stops making testosterone…impotence…lethargy, etc. Liver damage from oral pills. Sorry this can’t be referenced, but steroids have legit purposes and legit documented side effects as noted on the typical package insert. Because steroids are legitimate medical products, all have reference materials available for public reference by the pharmaceutcal manufacturers. THE BIGGEST obstacle is that alot of the ‘top’ drugs are designated for “equestrian use” or “cattle use” or “vetinary use”…so the actual damage to humans is unknown…‘technically’ unknown…but reasonable conclusions can be drawn based on their milder human drug versions. Here are some popular names to research: Winstrol (Winstrol V) - for vetinary use only Equipose - for use in horses only Ben Johnson busted @ olympics was on Winstrol V. Decadurabolin - humans Sustanon - humans All above are injectables. pill…Anavar - human pill…Anadrol - human Dianibol - humans (aka - D Ball) …pill Research some of those listed above. NOTE: Human growth hormone (HGH) might be the biggest problem…but I don’t believe it’s classified as a steroid.