Hyderabad: A drive for a ‘perfect body’ is pushing many fitness enthusiasts into dangerous territory. In recent weeks, Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) officials have launched a major crackdown on gyms and fitness centres across Hyderabad, uncovering a disturbing trend — the illegal sale and misuse of performance-enhancing anabolic-androgenic steroids and cardiac stimulant injections among gym-goers.
During inspections, officials found that several gyms were stocking and selling prescription-only drugs to clients seeking quick muscle gains. In one such raid, DCA teams inspected an unlicensed facility at Namalagundu, Secunderabad, and seized 66 vials of mephentermine sulphate, a powerful heart and blood pressure stimulant.
The facility was allegedly supplying these injections to bodybuilders without medical supervision. Over the past fortnight, more than two dozen gyms were raided in Secunderabad, Mehdipatnam, Punjagutta, Narsingi, Banjara Hills, and other parts of the city.
DCA director general Shahnawaz Qasim said the main objective of the operation was to safeguard the health of youngsters. “Such drugs should only be sold on a valid prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner. We have warned gym owners that selling steroids without prescriptions is illegal and dangerous. There have been instances of gym-goers suffering cardiac arrests, though not all are directly linked to steroid use. Our inspections are continuous and cover pharmacies, hospitals, supplement stores, and gyms,” he said.
Pharmacies have been instructed to maintain detailed prescription records and ensure that controlled substances are not diverted for unapproved use.
The crackdown follows several tragic incidents in Telangana over recent years, where gym-goers, including a 24-year-old police constable in Hyderabad and a 31-year-old man in Khammam, collapsed and died of cardiac arrest soon after workouts.
A gym trainer from Madhapur said the obsession with instant results often leads young people to experiment with steroids. “Social media and peer pressure make many believe that a perfect physique can be achieved overnight. But these drugs alter hormone balance and damage vital organs. Real fitness takes time, nutrition, and discipline,” he said.
Medical experts warn that anabolic steroids pose severe long-term health risks. Dr Anita Bhalla, professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Osmania General Hospital, said: “Steroids raise bad cholesterol, thicken heart muscles, and spike blood pressure, increasing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. They can also cause diabetes, infertility, liver damage, psychiatric problems, and hormonal disorders. Young users face additional risks like stunted growth and muscle weakness.”
She said that while some effects may subside after discontinuing use, prolonged misuse can cause permanent damage.
