The athletes still don't believe doctors who tell them that androstenedione and DHEA do not help make them stronger. That doesn't apply to athletes. Training for competition is done by taking a hard workout, feeling sore on the next day or more, and then going easy until the soreness goes away. Athletes know how long it takes for them to recover from workouts. IF they recover faster so they can do more intense training, they know that a new drug or technique is helping them.
Athletes train near their maximum, so they can tell when they recover faster and do more work.
Middle-aged men can't possibly train at their maximum, so this study shows that most gym rats don't gain that much from taking masculinizing hormones, but competitive athletes training near their maximum, do benefit from these drugs. Oral androstenedione administration and serum testosterone concentrations in young men. Wallace MB, Lim J, Cutler A, Bucci L. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in men. Sci Spts Exerc. Dr. Mirkin's opinions and the references cited are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe.