The Sunday News
BODYBUILDERS in Bulawayo have reportedly turned to the use of a combination of anti-retroviral (ARV) tablets, cow growth medication and testosterone as steroids for muscle gain, a move which experts have said might have long term effects, Sunday News can exclusively reveal.
The bodybuilders reportedly combine efavirenz which is part of ARV medication and Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, which is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that is marketed to dairy farmers to increase milk production in cows.
Steroids, in this case anabolic steroids, are defined by the International Institute on Drug Abuse as: “man-made substances related to male sex hormones, which doctors use to treat some hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from some diseases.”
Bodybuilders and athletes often use anabolic steroids to build muscles and improve athletic performance.
During Sunday News investigations, it was discovered that the bodybuilders combine these two with testosterone, a steroid hormone from the androgen group that can be taken to enhance muscle development, strength, or endurance. The three are crushed together to create a fine mix, with the athletes instructed to take half a teaspoon of the mixture once a day.
The mixture is sold at $35 per tablespoon and is sold clandestinely, especially at backyard gym facilities in high density areas. A tablespoon is equivalent to about 15g.
Bodybuilders interviewed claimed that the steroid was very effective, with most alleging that they had experienced muscle development within weeks of taking the dangerous and illegal steroid.
“I was introduced to this by a cousin of mine a couple of months ago and I guess you see for yourself that the results are there, we are not doing this for any contest but we want to be strong like any other bouncer.
“Since I began using this mix I wouldn’t say that I ever experienced any side effects, actually I feel normal and I expect the muscle development,” said a body builder from Bulawayo’s Tshabalala suburb.
Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe spokesperson Mr Richard Rukwata condemned the practice, saying there was a need for people to be more careful about what they consumed as they might be exposed to side effects that could even lead to their death.
“Some of these concoctions are scary. I do not see any sane person taking them. As an authority, we cannot by any means work alone but we desperately need the public to be more responsible rather than just expose themselves to such dangerous drugs just for the sake of being bouncers.
“Honestly, it is really sad that they can trust just anyone to prepare whatever they would be drinking and frankly what proof do they have that what they would be drinking is safe? So right now I can just prepare some pills and claim they are steroids, charging them astronomical prices,” said Mr Rukwata.
He revealed that the fact that these steroids were being used at underground gym facilities made it difficult for them to monitor them but it was now up to the public to expose such activities.
“Steroid abuse is by all means a worrying phenomenon that needs a wholesome approach. What people must realise is that while in the short term they can seem to work, they definitely have a long term effect.
“Besides, I believe something needs to be laboratory tested because if someone takes a drug that is meant for cows; it leaves a lot to reckon with,” said Mr Rukwata.
Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Pariranyatwa was particularly concerned about the wrongful use of ARVs, which he noted was unfortunate especially at a time when the country is working to improve the access of ARVs.
“While someone is abusing those ARVs there is someone out there who is in desperate need of them, hence we must be responsible enough to realise that. We must always consider that steroid abuse is very much illegal in this country,” said Dr Pariranyatwa.
Medical practitioner Dr Willmore Kapuyanyika revealed that while in the short term steroids could have their advantage in terms of muscle production in the long term they had serious disadvantages.
“While I am not aware of that particular mixture which you are referring to, what I can say is that steroids in general cause muscle growth but of particular worry is the growth of the heart muscles which can cause cardiac myohypertrophy and this can eventually result in heart failure.”
According to Mr Rukwata some of the side effects of steroid abuse include acne, breast growth, shrinking of testicles in men, voice deepening and growth of facial hair in women, high blood pressure, heart problems, liver disease, cancer, kidney damage and aggressive behaviour.
