Abstract
Six male strength athletes, three illicit anabolic steroid users and three non‐steroid users were monitored over several months as they underwent normal training and competition routines. Subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, Buss‐Durke Hostility Inventory and the Rosenweig Picture Frustration Test on four occasions: two on‐drug periods and two off‐drug periods for the steroid users and equivalent test periods for the non‐users. Steroid presence was monitored objectively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Whilst those drugs declared by the athletes were confirmed in the “on‐drug” samples and most of the “off‐drug” samples, clear steroid traces were apparent in some supposed off‐drug sessions. This complicated data interpretation and may partially explain why steroid users were significantly more hostile and aggressive at all times compared to the non‐users. Despite this, self‐rated aggression did increase significantly in steroid users during their acknowledged on‐drug periods. Multiple drug use or “stacking” in particular caused severe hostility/aggression; one steroid user also admitted to attempted murder during a previous steroid‐taking phase.