



Do Steroids Cause Uncontrollable Rage?

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has been charged with

pre-meditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend,

Reeva Steenkamp. At his bail hearings, South African

investigating officer Hilton Botha testified that he found two

boxes of drugs that could be testosterone, and needles in

Pistorius’ bedroom.



PISTORIUS DENIES MURDER: Pistorius claims that he

mistakenly killed Steenkamp when he fired four shots into a

locked bathroom, hitting his girlfriend three times after

thinking she was a burglar. The police claim that screams were

heard after the first shot. Pistorius claims that the drugs

found in his bedroom are herbal remedies. The world’s most

famous disabled athlete tested negative for drugs twice at the

London Olympics last year on Aug. 25 and Sept. 8, 2012.



WHY SOME ATHLETES TAKE STEROIDS: Competitive athletes often

take testosterone derivatives, also called steroids, because they

help them recover faster from intense workouts so they can do more

intense workouts sooner. This makes them stronger and faster.

When a person takes a hard workout and exercises through the

muscle burning, he damages his muscles. The next day, muscle

soreness can prevent him from taking another intense workout for

several days. However when he takes testosterone derivatives, he

often recovers so fast that he can take another intense workout

on the next day.



IS THERE SUCH A CONDITION AS STEROID RAGE? Some studies

show that males who take steroids are more likely to be violent

and to use other drugs (Am J Public Health. 2008;98 (12): 2185-

7). However the majority of men who use anabolic steroids do not

commit violent acts (Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 1996;22(6):

367-90). Yet there is strong evidence that some men do become

violent when they take steroids and have acted completely out of

their normal behavior (Arch Gen Psychiatry) February 2000;57(2):

133-140).



HOW LONG ARE STEROIDS DETECTABLE? Steroids can be detected

in a person’s body from one week to over a year after use.

AndroGel, a testosterone cream that is taken by rubbing on the

skin, can be detected for up to five days after use. The most

popular steroid, nandrolone, can be detected for up to a year.

Injectable testosterone, that is suspected here, can be detected

for up to three months. Police will need to get a court order

to test him right away if they want to prove that he took steroids.

Other forms of testosterone include testosterone propionate

(detectable for up to two weeks), testosterone undecanoate (one

week) and clenbuterol (four days).

Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s Fitness and Health e-Zine

February 24, 2013

The e-Zine is provided as a service. Dr.Mirkin’s reports and

opinions are for information only, and are not intended to

diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and

treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.

For more information visit http://www.drmirkin.com