Steroids hitting gyms again

Kochi: The absence of the National Anti-Doping Agency at the recently concluded state school sports meet at Kochi sparked off a controversy, but the truth about the huge abuse of steroids among sports people and body builders is yet to revealed and action taken by the concerned authorities and the police.

Intelligence sources claim that there has been a huge flow of steroids and body building pills from Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad to Kerala, but the tip-off remains on paper as the police are yet to take any action.

Deccan Chronicle had launched a campaign against the abuse of steroids by body builders and oarsmen in the backdrop of mushrooming fitness centres in the state.

This prompted the police to take action against gymnasiums operating without a licence. The police action reportedly resulted in a drop in the flow of steroids to the Kerala market. With the police losing interest over time, the trend is believed to have returned.

According to fitness experts, legal and illegal steroids are available in the Kerala market. "The legal steroids are costly, have just an average effect but fewer side effects. These are brought from the United States and European countries. Certified fitness trainers have the right to possess certain number of legal steroids and syringes.

Only top level professional body builders who have enough money to spend go for the legal steroids as it is really expensive. Body builders from poor background usually opt for the illegal ones as they are cheap," said a fitness expert in Kochi on condition of anonymity.

When contacted, a top official in the controlling bureau of the Narcotics Cell confessed that not a single case has been registered against the abuse of steroids in Kerala.

The official, who refused to reveal his identity, said. "We know that there has been abuse of steroids among body builders. But no case has been registered yet as we are yet to receive any complaint."

When asked if officials have the power to take action and raid suspect fitness centres, the officer was silent, and then said that it was the local police's duty to raid fitness centres and take necessary action.