Steroids are illegal in many countries. In Australia, for example, importing them without a doctor’s prescription can result in five years in prison. But in Thailand, where the drug is widely available and affordable, even a casual gym-goer can pick up a stash. This unchecked flow of drugs into the global market raises serious concerns about their impact on the health and safety of those using them. Adulterated products, inconsistent quality control and a lack of stringent regulations all pose real risks to users.
The soaring popularity of steroids in Thailand was highlighted by the death of a popular Australian amateur bodybuilder, Aziz “Zyzz” Shavershian, who died in a Bangkok sauna last year after suffering an undiagnosed heart attack. The incident led to numerous reports of everyday gym-goers from Australia and other nations travelling to Thailand to buy steroids, often in a practice called “stacking” them with other medicines, including powerful veterinary medications and fertility treatments.
This Fairfax investigation found that the drugs are readily available in pharmacies across Bangkok and Pattaya, where they sell for significantly less than on the international black market. At Tops Pharmacy on 2nd Road in South Pattaya, for example, 60 capsules of the anabolic-androgenic steroid Andriol cost 4,040 baht _ less than half what the same quantity sold for online. A 10-day supply of the injectable steroid Testoviron went for 3,000 baht, a quarter of what it is advertised to cost elsewhere.
The availability of steroids in Thailand is also aided by the country’s relaxed laws on importing sports medicines, particularly ones that are classified as hormones. Steroids are synthetic forms of testosterone, which have anabolic effects, increasing muscle mass. But there are many other hormones that have the opposite effect – cortisol to reduce inflammation, insulin for diabetics, birth control pills and several different types of medicines used to treat cancer. Steroids Thailand