The answer is hard work. The average athlete got his or her body through intense exercise and proper eating habits. However, a much smaller number may have achieved their prowess by taking any number of illicit drugs known as steroids. And believe us, you don't want to go there. Anabolic steroids are a group of artificial compounds closely related to the natural male sex hormone testosterone.
Females produce smaller amounts of testosterone than males.
Most anabolic steroids are illegal and are banned by professional sports organizations and medical associations. Athletes sometimes take anabolic steroids because they may help to increase muscle mass, endurance and body strength. The drugs stimulate muscle tissue to grow and bulk up by mimicking the effect of testosterone on the body. These drugs can cause acne, high blood pressure, liver damage, persistent bad breath, aggression and depression, to name a few. More specifically, men can expect to develop breasts, impotence, sterility and testicular shrinkage.