Australian Border Force sees spike in illegal steroid imports as experts warn of rising use among women

Experts warn rising steroid use among women driven by fitness pressures, posing long-term reproductive and associated health risks.

Experts are warning about the rising steroid use among women.

More Australian women are turning to performance enhancing drugs to keep up with the pressures of competitive sports and fitness culture, with the Australian Border Force saying it is “deeply concerned” about continued attempts to illegally import the substances into the country.

Calls to the Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action helpline have surged, while data shows the number of women using anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has more than doubled in the past decade.

It comes as experts warn use of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs) could lead to long-term reproductive issues.

Data shows a sharp rise in the number of illegal Performance and Image Enhancing Drug (PIED) detections, with 11,232 in 2023–24 financial year, up from 10,094 in 2022–23. .

Alarmingly, as of 28 February 2025, authorities have already intercepted 7,295 shipments — highlighting a troubling upward trend.

Queensland bodybuilder Sarah, who asked The Sunday Mail not to use her last name, said she had seen more women turning to steroids, driven by the desire to match the strength of men.

“There’s a strong culture of steroid use in most gyms,” she said.

Sonya Weith stoped using steroids after having serious health issue. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“As more men use them, the interest among women grows too. We want to be just as strong”.

But AMA Queensland president Dr Nick Yim warned steroid use could lead to adverse effects on multiple organs and physiological systems, including the reproductive system.

“Research indicates these substances can disrupt the natural hormonal balance, often leading to menstrual irregularities, suppression of ovulation, and, in some cases, long-term reproductive issues,” Mr Yim said.

“Beyond fertility, they can cause physical and psychological side effects, including voice deepening, increased body hair, mood swings, and increased risk of heart disease.

“There is also a stigma and lack of open discussion around female steroid use, which can make it harder for women to seek help or accurate information.”

Queensland participant in a Griffith University study on steroids use Picture Supplied

Queensland participant in a Griffith University study on steroids use Picture Supplied

The steroids approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Good Administration are all prescription medicines and none of them are approved for performance and image enhancement purposes.

In addition to the health issues outlined by Dr Yim, the TGA also warns about the risks associated with administering an injectable drug, that an online purchase that looks like a quality product could actually be from a dodgy manufacturer with no quality controls and that possession of steroids alone is an offence in some parts of Australia.

Griffith University lead researcher Dr Tim Piatkowski agreed with Dr Yam about the lack of accurate data.

Steroid use is on the rise

But he said it appeared some women were increasingly turning to AAS to meet the demands of competitive sports and fitness cultures that value masculinity.

Dr Piatkowski said his latest review, which was published in 2024, showed the prevalence of steroid use among women was 4 per cent among the general population compared to a Sago and colleagues study published in 2014, which said just 1.6 per cent of women used.

“We have social media putting all kinds of body ideals right in front of us. There’s a pressure for us to match these societal ideals lean and muscular bodies,” he said.

Dr Piatkowski said Australia’s current methods of tracking steroid usage were lacking, making it hard to grasp the full scope of the issue.

“Our monitoring systems are poor, so we don’t really know the true number of users,” he said.

While organisations like the TGA warn against any non-medical use, harm minimisation groups such as the Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA) report increasing contact from women seeking safer ways to self-administer substances, despite the legal and health risks.”

“As this ‘fit ideal’ gains traction, some women are turning to enhancement substances like steroids to meet these evolving standards,” QuIVAA chief executive Emma Kill said.

“Concerns are mainly around safe administration (including injection) of peptides and hormones.”

Dr Nick Yim (Image/Josh Woning)

Dr Tim Piatkowski

Queensland bodybuilder Sarah, who asked The Sunday Mail not to use her last name, said she had seen more women turning to steroids, driven by the desire to match the strength of men.

“There’s a strong culture of steroid use in most gyms,” she said.

“As more men use them, the interest among women grows too. We want to be just as strong.”

Sarah told The Sunday Mail she had personally gained 20kg of muscle through a combination of oral and injectable steroids, saying it was the only way she could reach her goals.

A spokesperson for The Australian Boarder Force said the agency was “deeply concerned” about continued attempts to illegally import Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs into Australia

“Our officers work tirelessly to detect, disrupt and dismantle criminal activities linked to these illicit import,” the ABF spokesperson said.

Former gym-owner, Sonya Weith – from the Sunshine Coast, said she used steroids for more than four years but was forced stopped using after her kidneys began to fail.

“I started to see the health impacts were overriding the desired strength, hair loss, acne, voice changes, my voice wasn’t like this many years ago the vocal changes are irreversible,” she said.

Sonya Weith stoped using steroids after having serious health issues. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I was taking a high dose of testosterone, my kidneys broke down, I ended up going into hyperbolic shock. I had a sugar level of one.”

“What has changed is that I have found acceptance in my natural self. I’m no longer reliant on steroids to realise my strength. It’s inherent within me, contained in my heart and soul, instead of a pill or syringe and competitive events,” she said.

Note: Performance and image enhancing drugs are prohibited by anti-doping policies in many sports, with more information on prohibited substances is available from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Those who use or are thinking about using a drug for performance and image enhancement should seek advice from a doctor, who can advise of the risks and legal implications associated with specific drugs and discuss how you can meet your performance and image goals safely.

Originally published as Australian Border Force sees spike in illegal steroid imports as experts warn of rising use among women