Possession of Underground Lab Steroids is Illegal in the United Kingdom

• Tweet

A British bodybuilder pleaded guilty to the possession of anabolic steroids after learning that steroid possession is legal in the United Kingdom only when the steroids are in the form of a “medical product”.  This has been interpreted to exclude steroids manufactured by underground laboratories (UGLs).  Graham McAdams was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge related to the possession of UGL steroids for bodybuilding  purposes.

McAdams was arrested when police found steroids in his house during the execution of a search warrant in October 2010. Police found approximately 500 stanozolol pills (popularly known as Winstrol), three vials of Sustanon and one vial of an unspecified testosterone ester. Fifteen vials of a steroid labeled boldenone (popularly known as Equipoise) were also found. However, laboratory analysis found the injectable solution was actually a mixture of drostanolone, testosterone, nandrolone and boldenone attesting to the lower quality control standards of many underground labs.

Many bodybuilders are under the impression that all steroid possession is legal in the United Kingdom. FRANK, the official drug education websites states that it is legal to import and possess anabolic steroids as long as they arrive in the form of a “medical products” and are strictly for personal use. The confusion arises over what constitutes a “medical product”.

The consensus, based on precedent from other court cases, is that only pharmaceutical grade steroids are medical products. This has been interpreted to exclude generic steroids and steroids made by underground labs. The burden rests with the defense to provide evidence proving that steroids used for bodybuilding purposes are legitimate medical products.

Source:

Wiles, D. (August 31, 2011). Bodybuilder felt his use of drugs was within law. Retrieved from http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9223416.Bodybuilder_felt_his_use_of_drugs_was_within_law/