Counterfeit Drugs and Pharmaceutical Preparations Seized from the Black Market Among Bodybuilders

This study aimed to identify active ingredients in counterfeit drugs and pharmaceutical preparations seized from the black market among bodybuilders. A total of 74 labeled products and 2 unlabeled preparations were analyzed using liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study found that 33.8% of the labeled products did not match their labels, with anabolic androgenic steroids being commonly found, especially in oil-based injectables. Of the 40 steroidal oily solutions, 52.5% had active ingredients that did not match the label, with one preparation lacking an active compound and 20 containing different or additional active ingredients, often in smaller quantities, suggesting contamination. Active ingredients identified included methandrostenolone, sildenafil, tamoxifen, and others in various forms such as tablets and injectables. The study concluded that counterfeit packaging from underground labs was visually indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceutical packaging.