Robert D. Kersey, PhD, ATC, CSCS
San Jose State University in San Jose, CA 95192-0054.
Journal of Athletic Training - Volume 31 * Number 3 * September 1996
Objective: To determine the incidence of anabolicandrogenic
steroid use among a sample of community college
student-athletes; also, to compare various aspects of users and
nonusers, as well as to describe usage patterns.
Design and Setting: A survey following random stratified
cluster sampling techniques was administered to 10 California
community colleges.
Subjects: A group of 1,185 male and female studentathletes.
Measurements: An anonymous 27-item, valid, and reliable
questionnaire was administered surveying anabolic-androgenic
steroid use and usage patterns.
Results: Of all student-athletes sampled, 3.3% were anabolic-
androgenic steroid users. Gender-specific incidence rates
were 4.2% for males and 1.2% for females. Anabolicandrogenic
steroid users tended to be older males, usually intheir second year of college. The users were more often
minorities. Users believed that they were knowledgeable about
anabolic-androgenic steroids, and that the rates of usage were
higher than reported. Their sources of steroid information were
often lifting partners and fellow athletes. Use of these drugs
was most often in cycles (mean of 6.7 weeks) and was
frequently done using multiple anabolic-androgenic steroids at
a time. The average number of cycles completed was 2.9. A
wide variety of steroids were used by the student-athletes, of
which most were obtained from illegal sources.
Conclusions: Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among California
community college student-athletes were similar to other
previous research studies involving high school and university
student-athletes.
Key Words: anabolic steroid(s), athlete, ergogenic aid(s)
