Why are steroids illegal?

[rory_20_uk]

The only reasons to take steroids:

1) medical (already legal)
2) to cheat at sports
3) to fix some kind of anti-anorexic mental issue

It's not cheating at sports if use is allowed by all. In the Olympics they are banned so then it's cheating.

The mental issue would be on the lines of body dysmorphic disorder which is different to anorexia: people always see themselves as underdeveloped / fat but unlike anorexics they want to be more "buff".

People drink to get over stress, smoke to be more comfortable in a social environment. I don't see the problem in people taking the stuff as long as they are: adults, informed and not known to be mentally ill.

[Quirinus]

But what about protein shakes then? Should it be banned too because it gives an edge to the athlete who consumes it regularly? Should taking ginseng extracts or coffee before examinations be considered cheating as well?

[TevashSzat]

But what about protein shakes then? Should it be banned too because it gives an edge to the athlete who consumes it regularly? Should taking ginseng extracts or coffee before examinations be considered cheating as well?

Well those are naturally available while steroids are generally synthetic (watch somone correct me on this)

[BigTex]

Well those are naturally available while steroids are generally synthetic (watch somone correct me on this)

Prohormones, or natural animal test gorilla testosterone for example.

[Odin]

People drink to get over stress, smoke to be more comfortable in a social environment. I don't see the problem in people taking the stuff as long as they are: adults, informed and not known to be mentally ill.

Absolutely correct, the latest and greatest is Equigen. Sadly it dosent come with any literature as to why some somatotropins are species specific but cavaet emptor as they say.

Stuff works though.

[HoreTore]

People drink to get over stress, smoke to be more comfortable in a social environment. I don't see the problem in people taking the stuff as long as they are: adults, informed and not known to be mentally ill.

You want to ban mental patients from smoking and drinking...?