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The widespread use of anabolic steroids by recreational and competitive bodybuilders isn't just an American phenomenon. It is an issue that spans the globe. Gulf News, an English-language daily newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, recently featured an article lamenting the “worrying increase” in the use of steroids by bodybuilding enthusiasts. It also seems to have identified the culprits – fitness instructors and personal trainers.
Gulf News reached this conclusion after interviewing Ahmad Abbas. Abbas is an influential coach who serves as the official course director for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) in the UAE. He has international experience serving as a consultant for the Icelandic handball national team and working as the strength and conditioning coach for Al Wasl Dubai Sports Club men's basketball team.
Abbas places the blame squarely on personal trainers who he believes are encouraging clients to use steroids and muscle-building drugs. They are motivated both by profit and by the desire to facilitate quick results for their clients.
“A very high percentage of gym trainers are to blame for the abuse of steroids among body-building enthusiasts. They are the ones who recommend their use and engage in selling them to people,”
Abbas said. “Trainers have a very smart way of convincing gym members to take steroids and HGH and, at the same time, make good money from it. They may influence people to take them for a period of only two months, promising them the results they have been looking for with no health implications.”
Abbas indicates that the problem is exacerbated by trainers who are not fully competent. They use steroids to compensate for their lack of knowledge about building muscle “the right way”.
“Many of these trainers lack scientific knowledge. They fail to help clients build a healthy, fit body the right way. Since the client is looking for quick results, the trainer needs to make it happen to keep their client [happy].”
The non-medical use of anabolic steroids is prohibited and the importation and distribution of steroids for bodybuilding purposes is highly illegal in the UAE. However, in many nearby countries, steroids can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription. This makes it easy for local dealers to import steroids into the country.
Prince Amir Shafiypour, a three-time world Muay Thai boxing champion, MMA gym owner and promoter, has also noticed the increase in steroid use in Dubai. He also blames trainers for selling steroids to gym goers in bodybuilding gyms. Shafiypour estimates that a one-month steroid cycle can cost anywhere between 5,000 UAE dirham ($1361 USD) and 20,000 UAE dirham ($5445 USD).
“There is a growing number of people taking performance enhancers for aesthetic improvement,” said Shafiypour. “Big money is being made by people who are bringing it into the country and selling it. In bodybuilding gyms, seeing trainers convincing clients is very much prevalent.
“They would then introduce the idea of steroids and persuade them to take them. Trainers also assure clients that they would administer the cycle of steroids, even though they are not qualified to do so.”
In spite of the illegal nature of steroid distribution in the UAE, Abbas does not believe local law enforcement has made cracking down on steroids a priority. He can only recall two personal trainers being arrested for selling steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the 16 years that he has lived in Dubai. Abbas thinks the police should do more.
Last year, the Commercial Control Department sector, a consumer protection division of Dubai's Department of Economic Development (DED), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Anti-Doping Committee have jointly launched a new campaign to increase awareness of the problem of steroid distribution in local gyms. The campaign warned commercial gyms of the illegality of actively participating in the illegal distribution of the performance- and physique-enhancing drugs. The campaign has apparently had little effect on steroid use in Dubai.
Gulf News reached this conclusion after interviewing Ahmad Abbas. Abbas is an influential coach who serves as the official course director for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) in the UAE. He has international experience serving as a consultant for the Icelandic handball national team and working as the strength and conditioning coach for Al Wasl Dubai Sports Club men's basketball team.
Abbas places the blame squarely on personal trainers who he believes are encouraging clients to use steroids and muscle-building drugs. They are motivated both by profit and by the desire to facilitate quick results for their clients.
“A very high percentage of gym trainers are to blame for the abuse of steroids among body-building enthusiasts. They are the ones who recommend their use and engage in selling them to people,”
Abbas said. “Trainers have a very smart way of convincing gym members to take steroids and HGH and, at the same time, make good money from it. They may influence people to take them for a period of only two months, promising them the results they have been looking for with no health implications.”
Abbas indicates that the problem is exacerbated by trainers who are not fully competent. They use steroids to compensate for their lack of knowledge about building muscle “the right way”.
“Many of these trainers lack scientific knowledge. They fail to help clients build a healthy, fit body the right way. Since the client is looking for quick results, the trainer needs to make it happen to keep their client [happy].”
The non-medical use of anabolic steroids is prohibited and the importation and distribution of steroids for bodybuilding purposes is highly illegal in the UAE. However, in many nearby countries, steroids can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription. This makes it easy for local dealers to import steroids into the country.
Prince Amir Shafiypour, a three-time world Muay Thai boxing champion, MMA gym owner and promoter, has also noticed the increase in steroid use in Dubai. He also blames trainers for selling steroids to gym goers in bodybuilding gyms. Shafiypour estimates that a one-month steroid cycle can cost anywhere between 5,000 UAE dirham ($1361 USD) and 20,000 UAE dirham ($5445 USD).
“There is a growing number of people taking performance enhancers for aesthetic improvement,” said Shafiypour. “Big money is being made by people who are bringing it into the country and selling it. In bodybuilding gyms, seeing trainers convincing clients is very much prevalent.
“They would then introduce the idea of steroids and persuade them to take them. Trainers also assure clients that they would administer the cycle of steroids, even though they are not qualified to do so.”
In spite of the illegal nature of steroid distribution in the UAE, Abbas does not believe local law enforcement has made cracking down on steroids a priority. He can only recall two personal trainers being arrested for selling steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in the 16 years that he has lived in Dubai. Abbas thinks the police should do more.
Last year, the Commercial Control Department sector, a consumer protection division of Dubai's Department of Economic Development (DED), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Anti-Doping Committee have jointly launched a new campaign to increase awareness of the problem of steroid distribution in local gyms. The campaign warned commercial gyms of the illegality of actively participating in the illegal distribution of the performance- and physique-enhancing drugs. The campaign has apparently had little effect on steroid use in Dubai.
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