Quantitative and qualitative analysis of anabolic androgenic steroids found on the black market – A protocol for a systematic review

Review question / Objective: With this systematic literature review we aim to assess published data on the quality and quantity of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) found on the black market to further determine the proportions of original, substandard, and counterfeit drugs. To our knowledge this is the first systematic literature review analyzing the quality and quantity of blackmarked anabolic steroids within the published literature. Condition being studied: AAS are synthetic, or human-made, variations of the male sex hormone testosterone that are widely abused by athletes for its anabolic effect on the muscle, thus are a convenient and easy method to improve body image and sport performance goals. Fake AAS, commonly acquired from the black market, pose a significant risk to individual and public health.