With the increase in population, areas of outdoor activities are fast decreasing. Consequently, there has been an increase in indoor activities. And among them, there has been a significant rise in the number of gyms and bodybuilding clubs. This is a good way of providing an alternative, especially to the young generation. But there is a dark side to these activities as well. Especially, if the youth attending these gyms start using performance-enhancing drugs (PED) and become addicted to it.
This is a menace that is destroying innocent young lives. And a number of the gyms ad clubs are contributing to the decay as they push these PEDs themselves.
Over the past few years, the number of gyms have rapidly increased all over the country. Close to 70 gyms are situated in Rawalpindi/Islamabad alone. And though it should have been a healthy activity, a number of these gyms are prescribing steroids and other drugs to their clients. Locally produced, these PEDs are taken by the youth in the hope of quickly achieving a muscular body without having to do too many tiring exercises. But as one grows addicted to them, these PEDs result in several diseases including disability of some sort and at times could prove fatal.
There are horrible stories and tales that tell of broken men, and families, just because of the uncontrolled use of PEDs. Young men who wanted to become body builders like the globally acclaimed Arnold Schwarzenegger, ended terribly with physical, psychological and social sufferings.
Both members of the middle and upper class are affected by this phenomenon. There are heart rendering tales in many houses of the lower class as well. However, not many are willing to tell their tale of despair. Despite health problems they are more afraid of the social sufferings in our conservative society.
Nevertheless, people in the bodybuilding business contend that the use of PEDs and steroids is rampant in the sport in Pakistan. Though tight control at international level has restricted the use of PEDs in bodybuilding. But in Pakistan it’s rampant. There is not a single dope testing laboratory in the country for the purpose of testing steroids. A test abroad costs nearly $300, an amount not affordable by Pakistani organizers.
For a better insight of what a steroid is, I asked Dr Sharief Astori, in charge Blood Bank, Government Polly Clinic Hospital, Islamabad, to explain. “Steroids have terrible side effects. Once you are addicted to it, no other medicine will work during sickness. They can cause toxic and hormone-induced side effects; most common being liver damage. It can result in a low sperm count and testicular atrophy. This can also result in the growth of breasts. Blood circulation is badly affected and the bones, especially the joint bones are damaged.”
Most of the steroids used in Pakistan are home made desi-maqwi-adwiyat produced mainly in Lahore and Gujranwala by hakeems, chemists and druggists. Though these drugs cost Rs800 to Rs1000, they are sold to a client for Rs3,000 to Rs35,000. By this amount you get a course of four to six months.
Gyms sell or prescribe steroids usually because they want more money. Some of them are not getting enough money to run their show by charging a nominal monthly fee Rs100 to Rs200. Therefore, they sell drugs to earn more money.
Despite the local products, steroids from Iran, Afghanistan India and Western countries are in vogue too. Decca Durran, Dexamathasoin, Deiltacotil, Testosterone, Primabolan, Winstrol etc are some of the commonly used steroids/drugs.
Steroids are actually life saving drugs but their excessive use makes them killers. Those who produce/sell steroids are typically called Ustad (maestro), who habitually addresses a Shagird (amateur) with a typical abusive way, “Oh’ stupid — you want to be a man like Salman Khan, o’ come to me I will teach you how to be one. My father had given a Nuskha (prescription) to Salman Khan’s father but I will give you the one — I will make you really a superman ...” Then he goes all the way, injecting the first dose of steroid into the innocent soul, contaminating his blood forever.
Generally the gym-guys don’t confess that they are prescribing steroids to their clients and they will lecture you on the side effects of steroids. But the ground reality is very different.
I went to a gym in Rawalpindi, where the manager told me that they have 85 members and a member is charge Rs200 per month. Thus they make a total earning of Rs17,000 per month. I wonder how the owner of this gym manages his business? He has to pay the utility bills, rent, and salary of the coach and two other employees.
Noman Shah, chairman Pakistan Amateur Body Builder’s Guilds says, “The alarming situation of steroids can be controlled if the government makes a law to make it necessary for every chemist/druggist to appoint a doctor on duty so that the drugs are issued (sold) properly. That is the way in many countries. But unfortunately our chemists and druggists are making a huge profit at the cost of our national health.”
Umar Yousif, a gym owner and secretary general of the Amateur Body Builder’s Guild had this to say:
“A gym-owner in Islamabad was using steroids. The other day he confessed to me that his heart had increased in size. A local political figure’s son has got liver and kidney infections, while a famous restaurant owner’s brother is also suffering from steroid-syndrome.”
“Lahore is the hub of steroids,” claims Ahmed Sadiq, ex-Mr World. “They are sold there like hot cakes or vegetables. If there are 100,000 people doing exercises in the gyms, 95,000 of them are using steroids.”
Haris Akram, is a young bodybuilder. He is very upset of the drug abuse in the gym-culture. He had started bodybuilding with the aim to win a great title. But now he is on a mission to fight against drug abuse. He goes to gyms and makes the aspirants aware of the side effects of steroids. “It should be the aim of every gym and body building club to produce healthy generations, not weak and drug-addicts.”
If the ‘gym-steroid syndrome’ is not controlled, within the next few years the land and nation of the ‘pure’ could be totally contaminated. Medical experts and social scientists are predicting a great dilemma. Those gym owners, body builders and social workers, who are willing to fight a ‘real war’ against steroid abuse, are yet alone. They are seeking help and assistance from the Ministry of Sports and various NGOs. It is necessary to save the future generations.
With the increase in population, areas of outdoor activities are fast decreasing. Consequently, there has been an increase in indoor activities. And among them, there has been a significant rise in the number of gyms and bodybuilding clubs. This is a good way of providing an alternative, especially to the young generation. But there is a dark side to these activities as well. Especially, if the youth attending these gyms start using performance-enhancing drugs (PED) and become addicted to it.
