Gyms install needle disposal bins to cater for members injecting steroids

Steroid use in Australian gyms has become so established that some fitness clubs are installing needle­ disposal bins to cater for members who inject muscle-building drugs before they work out.

The claims, made by Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph, also suggest that steroid users have now overtaken heroin addicts as the main clientele at some needle-exchange sites in NSW and Queensland.

The newspaper backs up the claims with a report that customs seizures of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) have blown out from 1820 in 2007/08 to 10,358 in the last financial year - an increase of 570% in just five years.

While not as high profile as claims of doping in elite sport in Australia made 12 months ago in the Australian Crime Commission (ACC)'s 'Organised Crime and Drugs in Sport' report, the ACC considers that steroid use is widespread throughout the community.

Earlier this month, ACC acting Executive Director Operations Richard Grant told The Daily Telegraph that PIEDs are "being used by members of the community seeking to enhance their physique or lose weight."

Former weightlifter Dr Anthony Shield, a Senior Lecturer in exerise science at Queensland University of Technology's School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, says steroids are increasingly being used by young men training at gyms.

Dr Shields recently told the ABC "if you were wanting steroids in Brisbane, for example, I don't think it would take too many trips to local gyms before you could find someone who knew something about how to get them.

"Very often they might start to use steroids when the progress doesn't match their goal but once they start making rapid progress or accelerated progress with steroids, it is very, very hard for anyone then to cease using steroids and go back to the rate of progress they had earlier."

At least one outlet of major gym franchise Anytime Fitness has erected signs telling members that while it does not promote the use of "sharps" and has installed needle dispensers "purely for the safety of our staff and members".

Anytime Fitness Australia General Manager Jeannie Nove told The Daily Telegraph that the company did not condone the use of PIEDs and had programs in place to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

She explained "we're concerned about the reported increase in performance and image-enhancing drug use in the community, however the culture in our clubs is to actively encourage a healthy lifestyle through good diet and exercise.

"Despite our efforts, some members may take a different approach to achieve results."

Peak health and fitness industry organisation Fitness Australia said its members were expected to "always act within the law to ensure the health and safety of their clients."

Click here to read the full report from The Daily Telegraph.