Steroids In South Africa
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You have no excuse for not knowing about steroids, South African laws when they’re relatively easy to find on the Internet before you travel.
Before traveling out of your own country to foreign destinations, it’s always important to be aware of their laws and regulations.
The same applies to drug use, and more specifically, steroid use, whether you live in South Africa or not.
As in other countries, steroid use is legal if you have a prescription and are using steroids for a medical reason, or even for personal use.
However, you could get into trouble with South African steroids regulation if you’re not careful.
South Africa Steroid Laws
There’s a myth floating out there on a variety of Internet forum boards about Steroids in South Africa.
They claim that while South Africa has laws that specify that steroids are illegal, that authorities don’t pay much attention to steroid use, nor manufacture and importing, and exporting unless it’s relatively massive in nature.
Or that use isn’t really “noticed”.
Some even state that if you pay cash and you “know someone”, it’s relatively easy to buy steroids in South African pharmacies that are often willing to make you a deal under the counter.
While this may be true in some locations, do be aware of the risk you take if you’re caught importing or exporting, selling, or processing more than minimal amounts of steroids in South Africa.
Risks of Getting Caught
Isn’t it important to actually take the time to research anabolic steroids, South Africa regulations regarding such issues?
In 2014, EWN News Agency reported the arrest of steroid manufacturers in Pretoria, near Johannesburg.
They discovered approximately R$20 million (Rand) worth of steroids at a house!
Be aware that due to the increased prevalence of steroids, steroid use, manufacturing, and import/exports, South Africa has created an organization known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) that focuses on crime and corruption – including steroids.
Residents in South Africa, like the US, Australia, and Canada, are the most prevalent users of steroids around the world.
According to the Taylor Hooton Foundation, the South African government is taking drastic steps to curb steroid use in schools.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports has begun testing individuals involved in sports in hundreds of schools throughout South Africa.
Steroids in South Africa (Rugby)
As more attention is focused on the prevalent availability and use of steroids in sports in South Africa, it stands to reason that civil laws and regulations regarding steroids in South Africa usage will also come under more focused attention.
Steroid use among South African sporting figures is nothing new. A number of athletes found using drugs and their outcomes include:
- Alfonso Adonis, a weightlifter, received a four-month suspension for using methylhexaneamine.
- Daniel Ross Harlin, a power lifter, received a 24-month suspension for using nandrolone.
- Enzo Lezzi, a cycler, received a 15-month suspension for using Deca-Durabolin
- One of the most severe cases involved Jared Lovett , a boxer who received a 16-year suspension for using the anabolic steroid Boldenone.
If you’re an athlete, don’t think that fines and suspension or even dismissal from your sport is impossible if you’re caught using steroids in South Africa.
This focus on steroids, South Africa abuse in a number of sports also focuses on one of the country’s most popular sports: rugby.
South Africa Steroids Statistics
In 2011, it was reported that 1 out of every 6 students in some of the top schools in the country tested positive for steroids in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Gauteng, as well as KwaZulu-Natal.
As a result of the prevalent use of steroids, South African schools are now responsible for paying as much as R$1,500 to have just one pupil tested. One community school set aside approximately R$100,000 for drug testing between 2011 and 2014.
To say that South Africa turns a blind eye to steroid use is a misnomer.
With the increase of alarming numbers of school-age and sports figures in South Africa who use performance-enhancing drugs, stricter laws, more oversight, and increased fines will likely be the norm.
Before visiting South Africa, be aware of the increased attention paid to steroids, South Africa laws, regulations, and potential problems of foreigners being caught with steroids or transporting steroids across borders.
As in other countries, anabolic steroids are considered controlled substances. According to South African customs and import regulations, narcotics and other controlled substances are prohibited.
Buy Steroids In South Africa Legally
Whenever possible, dig a little deeper beneath the surface when it comes to determining up-to-date steroids, South Africa rulings, laws, and regulations.
Just because something has held true in the past doesn’t mean that the situation hasn’t changed.
Due to the prevalent use and misuse and abuse of steroids by individuals in countries around the world, more focused attention is being brought to the dangers of short and long-term side effects of steroid abuse.
The same applies to steroids in South Africa.
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- Lippi G. Biochemistry and physiology of anabolic androgenic steroids doping. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2011.
- Kutscher EC. Anabolic steroids: a review for the clinician. Sports Med. 2002.
- Harmer PA. Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among young male and female athletes: is the game to blame? Br J Sports Med. 2010.
- Spratt DI. Altered gonadal steroidogenesis in critical illness: is treatment with anabolic steroids indicated? Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001.
- Di Luigi L. Andrological aspects of physical exercise and sport medicine. Endocrine. 2012.
- Onakomaiya MM. Mad men, women and steroid cocktails: a review of the impact of sex and other factors on anabolic androgenic steroids effects on affective behaviors. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2016.
- Rambaldi A. Anabolic-androgenic steroids for alcoholic liver disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006.
