JEDDAH, 18 May — Two young men in the city who had dreams of becoming great gymnasts one day were admitted to hospital in serious condition after taking a steroid-containing veterinary drug. The youths took the medicine, which is normally given as a nutriment to overwrought horses, in the hope of quickly invigorating their muscles.
Fed up with regular, time-consuming workouts to stay fit, the duo were on the lookout for a simple and easy method of bodybuilding when they stumbled upon the drug.
They had already exhausted their efforts on various medicines and nutrition supplements commonly available in drug stores.
When they learned that a certain medicine is given to horses to help them regain their vigor, the two youths imported the substance in large quantities from abroad. However, they developed severe health problems when they started taking the medicine and had to be hospitalized.
“The consumption of muscle-building drugs without medical supervision will lead to blockage of arteries and other serious complications that will endanger the functioning of the heart,” said Dr. Muhammad Anwar, a cardiologist at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital where the youths were being treated.
A hematologist at the hospital said the veterinary medicine, though safe in animals, could be life-threatening if it was given to humans.
Dr. Soliman Fakeeh, the hospital’s head, in a statement warned sportsmen and athletes against using muscle-building hormones and other stimulants because they are potentially hazardous to human health.
