The Banning of Androstenedione from Professional Sports

For about 10 years, Andro was legal and available over the counter for professional athletes and amateurs alike. In 2004, however, the US Controlled Substances Act was amended to list androstenedione as a “Schedule III” controlled substance. This classification meant that it was considered less dangerous than methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine, and pain killers, but still a substance that could cause physical or psychological addiction and that now can only be prescribed for a doctor, and for no more than six months at a time. Since “growing bigger muscles” is not a medical condition, doctors cannot legally prescribe the drug in the USA for training purposes.

A highly undesirable but seldom publicized side effect of using Andro

Even though the amended US Controlled Substances Act mischaracterized androstenedione as an anabolic steroid (it's not actually anabolic in itself, the testosterone the body makes from it is), there is another serious problem with casual use of the supplement that has to do with dosing. Taken in doses of 50 to 100 mg, in most men, the prohormone has no effect at all. Taken in doses over 300 mg, in most men, the prohormone is turned into testosterone. Taken in doses between 100 and 300 mg, however, androstenedione is metabolized into estrogen, the higher the amount of body fat, the more likely the man using the supplement is to suffer estrogen-induced effects. Instead of building muscle, Andro can build “man boobs,” induce impotence, and encourage weight gain on the hips. Prohormones are not a safe alternative to anabolic steroids!

Feminizing side effects are also a problem with other products related to androstenedione

The feminizing side effects are not just a problem with Andro. DHEA (dehydoepiandrosterone) and androstenediol, both of which are converted in the body into androstenedione, and both of which are still on the market, both can be converted into estrogen when taken in the wrong dosages. This is also a problem for 19-nor androstenedione and 19-nor androstenediol supplements. Tribulus, horny goat weed, ginseng, passionflower, and other herbal alternatives also have little or no effect on training. There simply is no stack of supplements for you to take to bring up your testosterone levels. Fortunately, taking a supplement is not the only way to build up testosterone and build up muscle, and building up muscle is not actually dependent on keeping sex hormone levels high.