It is an accepted fact that many serious bodybuilders us anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. In many countries around the world, mere possession of anabolic steroids and other muscle building drugs is a criminal offence. This applies to growth hormones as well. In the UK, possession for personal use is not a crime and is permitted. Neither was it an offence to import such products for personal use. To possess, import or manufacture with the intent of supplying was and is a criminal offence. Interestingly possession of fake steroids produced by underground labs even for personal use was a criminal offence.

The situation is now to change. The British government has decided to “restrict importation of anabolic steroids for self administration to personal custody.” This means that importation even for personal use will become a criminal offence. The government has acted on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs [ACMD]. This means that users importing will have to do so by visiting the country of origin, buying their products and bringing them in personally. However, possession of steroids produced by an underground lab and for personal use only will no longer be an offence.

What effect will this have? The most likely effect will be a big increase in the range of products made by underground labs in the UK. This will result in a general down-grading in the quality of products on the streets.

With the Olympic Games in London next year there has been pressure on the government to make mere possession also an offence but, so far they have resisted such pressure.  WADA is not happy with the attitude of various British governments and will continue to apply pressure to make any kind of possession an offence.  Next year will be the critical period.

How it will all work out is difficult to say when HM R & C and the Border Agency have been singularly unsuccessful in regulating the flow of recreational drugs into this country.