Steroids are naturally occurring compounds that play vital roles in our bodies, but synthetic anabolic steroids were developed to enhance muscle growth and male characteristics. After World War II, amphetamines emerged as the first widely used performance-enhancing drugs, initially given to troops and later adopted in sports. The Cold War era saw the rise of anabolic steroids in competitive weightlifting, leading to tragic consequences for some athletes as the dangers of these substances became increasingly apparent.
