They are advertised as an alternative to steroids with no side effects and with oral administration.
The Guardia Civil has dismantled the first criminal organization in Spain specializing in the import, production and distribution of SARMS, a drug with an acronym of English origin and classified as selective androgen receptor modulators, the distribution of which is prohibited. The use of these chemicals, which are taken orally and do not require an injection, is of concern to anti-doping authorities.
The Armed Institute announced this on Wednesday. SARMS are cataloged by the Spanish Medicines Agency as “drugs under investigation”, so their distribution and sale are not allowed in Spain.
The operation began in 2021 and is the first to be carried out on the national territory against the trade in this type of substance.
SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) are selective androgen modulators. Substances with a very specific selective ability, able to stimulate the desired part of the body, be it muscle, bone or body fat. Unlike common steroids, which bind to androgen receptors in many tissues throughout the body, SARMs selectively bind to androgen receptors in certain tissues but not others.
They are advertised as an alternative to steroids with no side effects and with oral administration. However, the Guardia Civil points out that “they can cause significant side effects” such as “high blood pressure, skin rashes, headaches, liver toxicity, vision problems or impotence”.
The operation, called Sahagún-Arán, included actions in the provinces of Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Madrid, Granada, Murcia and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It has been possible to dismantle the organization and intervene in large quantities of SARMS, as well as materials for its manufacture, conditioning and shipping.
Spain’s anti-doping authorities have noted an increase in activity related to these drugs, according to an ABC article, but with a detail that makes them potentially more dangerous. They do not require an injection. They are administered orally in pills or droppers, which removes the fear, scruples or considerations related to the punctures in the muscle or vein of so many unscrupulous people who are willing to resort to doping to improve their performance.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
