Daijiworld Media Network – Brisbane

Brisbane, Jul 23: Eighteen-year-old Mark scrolls Instagram late at night, captivated by muscular influencers lifting massive weights and flaunting sculpted bodies. Inspired by hashtags hinting at steroid use, he places an online order for his first steroid cycle—no prescription, no warnings, just vials in the mail and the promise of quick gains.

Weeks later, he’s posting progress photos as #MegaMark, unaware he might be injecting harmful chemicals into his body. A recent Australian study has found that underground steroids, widely sold online and through gym networks, are often mislabelled and contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium—substances linked to cancer, organ failure, and heart disease.

Researchers analysed 28 steroid samples sourced from users across the country. These included injectable oils, oral tablets, and raw powders. More than half were mislabelled or didn’t contain the expected drug. One product claimed to be testosterone enanthate but was actually trenbolone, a much stronger steroid. Another, labelled Oxandrolone, claimed 10mg per tablet but had only 6.8mg.

Only four of the 28 products matched their label claims within a reasonable margin. All tested samples showed some level of heavy metal contamination. Though individual levels were below daily safe limits, repeated or stacked use could lead to dangerous accumulation in the body. Experts warn that long-term steroid users may unknowingly risk cognitive decline, cancer, and organ damage.

Anabolic steroids, synthetic drugs that mimic testosterone, are prescribed for certain medical conditions but are increasingly misused by young Australians aiming to build muscle or improve performance. Steroid possession without a prescription is illegal and can result in heavy fines or prison terms, yet demand continues to grow.

Study author Dr Timothy Piatkowski from Griffith University said that most underground steroids are made outside regulated environments with poor quality control. Contamination with toxic metals likely occurs during synthesis or through impure raw materials, often sourced from unregulated manufacturers.

As steroid use rises, experts are calling for a national testing and surveillance programme. Unlike pill testing at music festivals, steroid testing requires complex lab techniques. Dr Piatkowski advocates integrating such programs with needle and syringe services and creating peer-led awareness campaigns involving those with lived experience.

He warned that social media and fitness culture are driving steroid demand among youth. While users think these drugs are safe when taken carefully, the real danger may be hidden in the very compounds they trust.