For the last few years, Thailand has become a major hub for anabolic steroids. Its burgeoning pharmaceutical industry has attracted legitimate manufacturers as well as illicit operations, and its location has put it in the sights of international criminal networks. It is also a popular destination for travellers, especially those seeking to buy steroids online.
The drugs are used by amateur bodybuilders as a fast-track to a ripped physique, but they can have severe side effects – including infertility and enlarged breasts in men, and hair loss and impotence in women. Some are reversible, but others can be permanent and life-threatening. A two-week investigation by Fairfax Media found that many Australians, rather than risk prosecution at home, are travelling to Asia and “stacking” a cocktail of dangerous drugs.
Steroids are a class of synthetic hormones that promote muscle growth and enhance performance in athletes and weightlifters. They are most often prescribed for medical purposes, but can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies in Thailand and are readily available in some gyms.
According to Australia’s anti-drug authority, the ACC, the United States continues to be the main source of steroids seized at airports in the country, but in recent months, Thailand has been named as a prominent embarkation point for Australians who travel here to purchase anabolic steroids.
While it is legal to purchase anabolic steroids in most countries, in Australia importing them without a prescription carries a penalty of up to $170,000 and five years in prison. The same is true for exporting them to another country. Steroids Thailand