Table 1 Sample characteristics

Age (mean (SD))

28.44 (4.50)

31.00 (7.68)

−1.15

0.259

Education (years)

15.97 (2.09)

14.41 (2.06)

2.13

0.042

Alcohol units/week (mean (SD))

0.66 (0.91)

1.73 (2.73)

−1.43

0.146

Height (cm)

167.22 (7.80)

166.41 (6.51)

0.32

0.751

Weight (kg)

65.48 (9.76)

65.91 (9.81)

−0.12

0.903

Positive test (n (%)

0 (0.0)

5 (38)^a

0.01^†

T/E ratio (mean (SD))

1.09 (0.67)

1.25 (1.11)

0.627

Training type (n(%))

0.659^†

 Bodybuilding

7 (43.8)

5 (31.2)

 Powerlifting

2 (12.5)

1 (6.2)

 Combat sports

1 (6.2)

2 (12.5)

 Recreational sports

5 (31.2)

8 (50.0)

 Other

1 (6.2)

0 (0.0)

Training intensity (mean (SD))

 Minutes strength/week

356.17 (214.69)

357.14 (299.90)

−0.01

0.992

 Minutes endurance/week

116.00 (115.56)

170.00 (140.18)

−1.07

0.283

 Squat record

98.25 (20.69)

112.73 (33.64)

−1.23

0.223

 Squats current max

96.64 (17.56)

81.25 (35.33)

1.13

0.226

 Bench record

72.65 (9.61)

77.71 (24.85)

−0.65

0.552

 Bench current max

62.00 (23.14)

63.81 (29.05)

−0.15

0.878

 Deadlift record

117.14 (30.30)

106.36 (24.09)

0.99

0.345

 Deadlift current max

108.36 (40.25)

85.62 (34.38)

1.40

0.195

Characteristics of AAS use

 Debut age (years) (median (IQR))

22.00 [20.75, 26.25]

 Total years AAS use

1.50 [1.00, 4.00]

 Number of cycles^b

3.00 [1.50, 4.25]

 Weekly dose (mg)^b

240.00 [190.00, 420.00]

 Cycle duration (weeks)^b

9.00 [7.00, 17.00]

Current/previous AAS (n (%))

 Previous consumer

9 (56.2)

 Months since quitting (median [IQR])^a

16 [7.50, 41.00]

 Current consumer

7 (43.8)

 Number of compounds^c

7 (4.75)

Compounds used (n (%))^c

 Anavar (Oxandrolone)

12 (80.0)

 Winstrol (Stanozolol)

10 (66.7)

 Primobolan (Metenolone)

10 (66.7)

 Nandrolone

7 (46.7)

 Clenbuterol*

11 (73.3)

 Growth hormone*

8 (53.3)