Anabolic steroids are basically hormonal substances that are chemically related with testosterone. Testosterone is the male hormone that promotes muscle growth. History of anabolic steroids indicates that there are in excess of 100 varieties of steroids but only a few are approved for human use. In fact anabolic steroids are schedule III drugs that need valid prescription for their use in the United States.

History of anabolic steroids can be tracked down to the early 1930s and this was even before the word steroid was used. In the period of 1930s scientists were successful in creating a synthetic type or form of the male hormone testosterone. This was directed towards treatment of men who were unsuccessful in producing requisite hormone for growth along with sexual functioning.

Following this discovery in the Second World War this artificial kind of testosterone was used to help weight gain in malnourished soldiers. History of anabolic steroids indicates that after the war the steroids were used by athletes for improved competitive performance. It was during the Olympics of 1956 that the Soviet athletes performed exceptionally well with the help of testosterone. When this was determined by Dr Zeigler a physician from USA he created a selective type of anabolic steroid. Dianobol or methandrostenolone was first approved by FDA in 1958 for use in the USA.

There continued to be sporadic trials and use of anabolic steroids in the 60s till the 80s. Following this a study was done in 1972 and in that study no big difference was observed between individuals who were given anabolic steroids through injection and those that received placebo.

Even then History of anabolic steroids reflects that anabolic steroids became popular not only with athletes playing at the level of Olympics but at other professional levels as well. Finally in the year 1975 the Olympic committee banned steroids use within the Olympic competition. In 1988 regulation against steroids was enforced under the Anti drug act and penalties were declared against possession and sale of steroids.

Following this as per the history of anabolic steroids the Congress passed an enforcement act named Anabolic Steroid Enforcement Act. This Act was passed in 1990 and some anabolic steroids were declared as schedule III drugs as per controlled substances act. Before this the control over steroids was largely exercised by state laws. In spite of these provision people continue to use anabolic steroids illicitly and in fact a greater number of adolescents have started using steroids.

Controlled substances act was further modified and this was replaced by the Anabolic Steroid Control Act. This Act was passed in 2004 and as per this act prohormones and anabolic steroids are both now deemed as controlled substances.