Hi everyone, my name's James and I'm a journalist for BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. I'm doing a piece on soldiers testing positive for steroids in CDTs.
I've got figures which show a sharp increase in cases since steroid testing came in since 2008.
What I'm after is someone who this has happened to and would like to take part in my report - is this you?
I'd like to find out why you did it, whether you felt under pressure to do it, and how you look back on it now.
I'm happy to offer anominity, if this is you or you know someone, it would be great to hear from you.
james.waterhouse@bbc.co.uk
0203 614 1110
Thanks,
James
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Steroid Use
Re: Steroid Use
Did those people get thrown out of the army when they showed positive for steroids?
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JamesWaterhouse
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- Joined: Tue 03 Jun, 2014 9:31 am
Re: Steroid Use
The MOD says it has a zero tolerance policy - so there's a good chance they might have.
Re: Steroid Use
I'm aware of the zero tolerance policy. But i wanted to know for fact if they did or didn't get kicked out.
Surely a demotion would be more fitting. After all steroids aren't mind altering drugs like recreational drugs like coke and weed. They are performance drugs. Kicking a soldier out because he wanted to improve his performance and muscle just seems stupid. And a waste of all the time and money spent training him.
And no i don't do steroids! lol Fear of needles haha
Surely a demotion would be more fitting. After all steroids aren't mind altering drugs like recreational drugs like coke and weed. They are performance drugs. Kicking a soldier out because he wanted to improve his performance and muscle just seems stupid. And a waste of all the time and money spent training him.
And no i don't do steroids! lol Fear of needles haha
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Zero_Higher
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- Location: Back of the map
Re: Steroid Use
They are banned for a very good reason Jamie. Steroid use is illegal unless prescribed by a doctor. Any use of an illegal drug or misuse of a prescription drug could raise questions about trustworthiness or about the willingness to comply with laws and regulations. Not what we need in a soldier.
Anabolic steroid abuse can also lead to addiction, and a soldier with an addiction can be a very unstable soldier. It can also lead to potentially dangerous medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart attacks. Misusing anabolic steroids can also cause the following psychological or emotional effects:aggressive behaviour, mood swings, manic behaviour, hallucinations and delusions. Now I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be firing and maneuvering next to some idiot that takes steds and is now hallucinating.
Like many other substances, anabolic steroids are addictive. This means you can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect and have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them including depression.
If anyone wants to get massive, go and annoy a PTI.
Zero
Anabolic steroid abuse can also lead to addiction, and a soldier with an addiction can be a very unstable soldier. It can also lead to potentially dangerous medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart attacks. Misusing anabolic steroids can also cause the following psychological or emotional effects:aggressive behaviour, mood swings, manic behaviour, hallucinations and delusions. Now I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be firing and maneuvering next to some idiot that takes steds and is now hallucinating.
Like many other substances, anabolic steroids are addictive. This means you can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect and have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them including depression.
If anyone wants to get massive, go and annoy a PTI.
Zero
A determined person doesn't find it hard to succeed; they find it hard to stop trying
Re: Steroid Use
well when you put it like that..... 
Re: Steroid Use
There have been a number of suicides connected with people taking steroids.
Re: Steroid Use
Rise in soldiers testing positive for steroid use
There has been an increase in soldiers testing positive for steroid use while serving in the army, according to new figures obtained exclusively by Newsbeat.
A Freedom of Information request has shown that in 2013 the number of failed tests increased by five times from around 20 to 100, since steroid testing started in 2008.
The Ministry of Defence suggests that as operations are winding down in Afghanistan, troops may be turning to the drug in their spare time.
It says it has a zero tolerance policy with clear guidelines.
I definitely regret it because I lost a career which I could have been in for years...
Former soldier
Steroids can help build up muscle mass quickly, meaning you can train harder and for longer. The side effects include hair loss, heart problems and acne.
Newsbeat has been shown drug test data for the last ten years for the Army, Navy and RAF.
Recreational drug detections (cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy etc.) have either stayed constant or gradually declined.
There was also a slight increase in steroid detections within the RAF.
A former soldier, who wanted to remain anonymous, has told Newsbeat he "lost his career" because of his steroid use.
The serviceman was discharged from the army after steroids were discovered on his property.
He said: "It was one of the first times I had done it, so obviously there were doubts in my head, but I went ahead with it because I wanted the gains."
The soldier was one of around 40 other people to lose his job over steroid use in 2011.
"I definitely regret it because I lost a career which I could have been in for years," he admits.
Number of soldiers caught using steroids (approx)
• 2009 - 20
• 2010 - 20
• 2011 - 40
• 2012 - 20
• 2013 - 100
Source: Ministry of Defence
"There were a fair few lads who were always on steroids in the army. There were loads of them that do not get caught, and that is because they are careful about it.
"When they are on tour, if there is downtime, they go to the gym, and when they are in the gym there is the chance to get big, and come back off tour looking bigger and stronger."
Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs which are only meant to be sold by pharmacists with a doctor's prescription.
It is legal to possess or import steroids as long as they are for personal use, but they are banned by the MOD and it is against the law to sell or supply them to others.
The soldier said: "I went to a nutritional shop where I was based, and just asked the bloke behind the counter if there was anything stronger than what was he was selling over the counter. He gave me his number and said to contact him later."
The ex-soldier says any weight he put on after using steroids he lost "pretty quickly" and also suffered side effects like acne.
Professor Chris Cooper teaches Biochemistry at the University of Essex and explains that any positive aspects of taking steroids would wear off very quickly.
"There is a massive increase in power for the soldier, but that is going to have a limited benefit.
"Being a soldier is a highly technical and highly endurance based role, so I would say taking anabolic steroids would have no use at all."
The Army's Director of Personal Services, Brigadier John Donnelly says the reason the MOD bans steroids is because of the health implications.
He said: "There's this great stuff called food which contains the balance of all the nutrition and vitamins you need, for the most arduous training you can do."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/27879888
There has been an increase in soldiers testing positive for steroid use while serving in the army, according to new figures obtained exclusively by Newsbeat.
A Freedom of Information request has shown that in 2013 the number of failed tests increased by five times from around 20 to 100, since steroid testing started in 2008.
The Ministry of Defence suggests that as operations are winding down in Afghanistan, troops may be turning to the drug in their spare time.
It says it has a zero tolerance policy with clear guidelines.
I definitely regret it because I lost a career which I could have been in for years...
Former soldier
Steroids can help build up muscle mass quickly, meaning you can train harder and for longer. The side effects include hair loss, heart problems and acne.
Newsbeat has been shown drug test data for the last ten years for the Army, Navy and RAF.
Recreational drug detections (cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy etc.) have either stayed constant or gradually declined.
There was also a slight increase in steroid detections within the RAF.
A former soldier, who wanted to remain anonymous, has told Newsbeat he "lost his career" because of his steroid use.
The serviceman was discharged from the army after steroids were discovered on his property.
He said: "It was one of the first times I had done it, so obviously there were doubts in my head, but I went ahead with it because I wanted the gains."
The soldier was one of around 40 other people to lose his job over steroid use in 2011.
"I definitely regret it because I lost a career which I could have been in for years," he admits.
Number of soldiers caught using steroids (approx)
• 2009 - 20
• 2010 - 20
• 2011 - 40
• 2012 - 20
• 2013 - 100
Source: Ministry of Defence
"There were a fair few lads who were always on steroids in the army. There were loads of them that do not get caught, and that is because they are careful about it.
"When they are on tour, if there is downtime, they go to the gym, and when they are in the gym there is the chance to get big, and come back off tour looking bigger and stronger."
Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs which are only meant to be sold by pharmacists with a doctor's prescription.
It is legal to possess or import steroids as long as they are for personal use, but they are banned by the MOD and it is against the law to sell or supply them to others.
The soldier said: "I went to a nutritional shop where I was based, and just asked the bloke behind the counter if there was anything stronger than what was he was selling over the counter. He gave me his number and said to contact him later."
The ex-soldier says any weight he put on after using steroids he lost "pretty quickly" and also suffered side effects like acne.
Professor Chris Cooper teaches Biochemistry at the University of Essex and explains that any positive aspects of taking steroids would wear off very quickly.
"There is a massive increase in power for the soldier, but that is going to have a limited benefit.
"Being a soldier is a highly technical and highly endurance based role, so I would say taking anabolic steroids would have no use at all."
The Army's Director of Personal Services, Brigadier John Donnelly says the reason the MOD bans steroids is because of the health implications.
He said: "There's this great stuff called food which contains the balance of all the nutrition and vitamins you need, for the most arduous training you can do."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/27879888
Admit nothing. Deny everything.
Re: Steroid Use
Many soldiers carry heavy loads on their back for long distances and I have known it used to to combat strains and ither injuries
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Admiral RedNuht MI7
- New Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat 13 Sep, 2014 8:14 am
Re: Steroid Use
A person using steroids is no longer that person as defined by genetics.
Steroids like Viagra alter DNA such that the genetic composite of the offspring can be so dramatically different
that the drug is as much the father as anyone.
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/anabo ... 48894.html
0pinions differ but the best analysis and precaution indicate using these drugs [and many drugs] will create
gene mutations in the parent and offspring ...
I know that in security and police agencies that these drugs are commonplace now, yet some of the users I ve seen are
so deformed that they appear to be no longer human.
Da Vinci gave the mathematical phi proportions that a human figure eating a proper diet should exhibit
and the beefcakes security and police I see in America now don't fit the human description and their children
are often born with serious cognitive disabilities.
Steroids like Viagra alter DNA such that the genetic composite of the offspring can be so dramatically different
that the drug is as much the father as anyone.
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/anabo ... 48894.html
0pinions differ but the best analysis and precaution indicate using these drugs [and many drugs] will create
gene mutations in the parent and offspring ...
I know that in security and police agencies that these drugs are commonplace now, yet some of the users I ve seen are
so deformed that they appear to be no longer human.
Da Vinci gave the mathematical phi proportions that a human figure eating a proper diet should exhibit
and the beefcakes security and police I see in America now don't fit the human description and their children
are often born with serious cognitive disabilities.
