Geelong experts warn of steroid risks
Experts have lifted the lid on the unwanted side effects of steroids and why difficulty coming off them is a “big problem”.
Geelong
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Illegal performance and image enhancing drugs can leave users with unwanted side effects including erectile dysfunction and premature balding, Geelong doctors have warned.
A number of Geelong residents have landed in court after becoming involved with steroids in recent years.
Performance and image enhancing drugs are a diverse group of drugs, including anabolic-androgenic steroids, such as testosterone, and peptide hormones, that people use with the aim of improving sporting performance or pursuing a desired look.
Local GP and Western Victoria Primary Health Network spokeswoman Dr Anne Stephenson said the use of anabolic steroids — drugs that help growth and repair of muscle tissue — had been increasing over the past decade.
Dr Stephenson said many GPs may not realise their patients were taking anabolic steroids illegally.
“Doctors can use these drugs for issues such as hormonal treatment and muscle rehabilitation, but they are often misused by people seeking to gain strength and build muscle bulk,” she said.
“Doctors are also aware that people are taking other drugs such as human growth hormone and peptides to try and increase strength and muscle growth.”
Barwon Health sees patients who have used androgens(reproductive hormones which can include testosterone),growth hormones, and other illicit drugs,head of its endocrinology unit Dr Kimberly Cukier said.
“Long-term adverse effects of testosterone for non-medical purposes include suppression of testicular function, infertility, gynecomastia (breast tissue enlargement), elevated red cell levels, liver toxicity, psychological disorders, adverse changes in cholesterol levels and clotting, changes in bone structure in adolescents and infections,” she said.
She said use of androgens was often associated with risky behaviour, such as smoking and alcohol abuse.
“Body dysmorphic disorder is associated with unrealistic expectations of body image,” she said.
“This can lead to the use of banned substances.”
Dr Stephenson said while the misuse of anabolic steroids could affect any demographic, the main one seemed to be younger men seeking to gain strength or increase muscle bulk.
She described anecdotal reports of teenagers using illegal steroids for body image as “very concerning”.
“The misuse of anabolic steroids poses significant risks as many people appear to use them without medical supervision and access them online where they are largely unregulated,” she said.
“There are a range of short-term and long-term side effects for both men and women, but we still don’t know all the health issues likely to arise from long-term use.
“Both men and women can experience a range of conditions such as difficulty sleeping, changes to mental health, skin changes and increased libido.
“Men can also see issues develop such as their testes or penis shrink, experience erectile dysfunction, baldness and the development of breasts.
“Women may develop masculine traits such as a deeper voice and facial hair, experience irregular menstruation and see their breasts shrink.
“Younger people may also have issues such as stunted development and premature balding.”
Dr Matthew Dunn, from the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University, said bodybuilders often incorrectly did not consider distributing their steroids – which they had imported or manufactured – to fellow gym buffs as drug trafficking or supplying.
He said it could be “very hard to stop” taking steroids and people who wanted to come off them but just could not was a “big problem”.
“The main thing is we don’t have the off ramps for people that want to stop,” he said.
Users could be left with no option but to stay on steroids or turn to the black market for products to help, he said.
Measures to assist steroid users to taper off needed to be considered, he said.
“If you’re around a group of people and your identity is built up around this – going to the gym – it might be hard to say ‘now’s the time to stop’,” he said.
He said the internet had provided another avenue for people to discuss steroids.
“It used to be gym based, you knew who was using and selling,” he said.
“That still is the case but the internet has created another community where people come together to talk about this.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson said Geelong police, including divisional response and crime investigation units, would continue to investigate and charge people engaged in unlawful activity, including the supply of illicit steroids.
“We encourage anyone who has information around drug trafficking to contact police or make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au,” the spokesperson said.
Sprung: Geelong identifies who have been involved with steroids
Calum von Moger
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel in 2019,bodybuilder Calum von Moger admitted he had taken steroids “to get ready” for competitions.
Von Moger, who played Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2018 film Bigger, grew up in the Geelong region before moving to the US.
Last year, von Moger landed in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to charges including possession of testosterone cypionate and viaplex (a drug to help men with erectile dysfunction).
Von Moger told the court he could no longer produce testosterone naturally.
The former Oberon High School student avoided conviction after pleading guilty to possessing drugs including methamphetamine and cannabis.
Von Moger went to rehab and has returned to the US.
The former Mr Universe told his millions of Instagram followers he wanted to leave 2022 in the past.
Christopher Chambers
Christopher Chambers fronted Geelong Magistrates’ Court and was jailed in 2021 over drug and driving charges.
After being pulled over by police, trenbolone acetate and sustanon – both anabolic steroids – were found inside a package.
A search of the car also uncovered drug paraphernalia, needles, two mobile phones and three watches.
That same month – April 2021 – a police search of his house uncovered 200ml anabolic steroids, a plastic seal bag containing heroin, cannabis and a stimulant called dexamphetamine sulfate.
Cameron Stankovski
Anti-bikie taskforce detectives were serving Cameron Stankovski with a firearms prohibition order at his Armstrong Creek home on April 15, 2019 when they found more than $19,000 at his home.
More than $7000 in cash was found in rubber bands on the top shelf of a wardrobe and $11,830 in the centre console of an unlocked car at the house, a summary of Stankovski’s offending stated.
Two vials of steroids in a jacket, two knuckledusters, a baton and a flick-knife were also found.
In the Geelong Magistrates’ Court Stankovski pleaded guilty to dealing with proceeds of crime, possessing steroids, possessing controlled weapons and possessing a prohibited weapon after seeking a sentence indication from the court.
He was convicted for the offences.
Stankovski’s lawyer told the court the steroid vials were empty when they were found by police.
Stankovski, who has reportedly held senior roles with the Geelong Bandido chapter, was fined $15,000 for drug possession and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
Jayson Bensch
In 2019, Jayson Bensch was sentenced to a 238-day prison term, which allowed him to be released from custody due to time already served.
His lawyer said the gym junkie had a problem with steroid use.
Police seized a range of drugs inside his Armstrong Creek rental property, including 497g of ketamine and 499g of ecstasy.
They also found smaller quantities of cocaine, steroids and Xanax tablets, along with more than $10,500 in cash.
Bensch pleaded guilty to charges including drug trafficking.
Bradley Ford
Geelong body bodybuilder turned drug dealer Bradley Ford was sentenced to prison in 2021 after a police raid uncovered half a kilogram of ice and $20,000 cash.
The County Court heard Ford had developed a “serious dependence” on methamphetamine to ease “feelings of social inadequacy”.
Upon becoming involved in bodybuilding he also began injecting anabolic steroids.
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