A study by a team of Southern Cross University (SCU) scientists has revealed that there are more side effects of performance enhancing drugs than known till now.

This SCU study, led by Dr Robert Weatherby, revealed that anabolic steroid use can considerably raise susceptibility to viral infections and cancers. The study also raised questions about the possible dangers of use of banned substances in the long term.

The study was carried out in conjunction with Mentorn, Channel 4 (UK) and New Scientist.

From News-Medical.Net:

Dr Weatherby said the study revealed that using anabolic steroids, even at doses 50 times less than those commonly used by steroid abusers, significantly increased susceptibility to viral infections and cancers by weakening a vital part of the body’s immune system.

The researchers also found that steroids could cause a change in the users’ psychology, reducing their empathy for other people, and making them less sensitive to the effect of their actions on others. Unlike other drugs, which merely alter mood for a short time, this new evidence indicates steroids may cause a change to human personality, which is normally stable throughout life – a result that has potential implications for those convicted of criminal offences related to so called “roid rage”.

“Athletes have used these drugs for a long time, hoping to improve their performance, but now for the first time we’ve been able to show that androgenic anabolic steroids have a seriously detrimental effect on a specific part of the human body’s immune system,” Dr Weatherby said.

It was remarked that any one making use of anabolic steroids with an aim to enhance athletic performance in the short term is actually endangering own health.