Death by steroid

The death of bodybuilder Matloob Haider has raised fears among bodybuilding enthusiasts about the use of food supplements or drugs they commonly used to improve their physique and to enhance their chances of winning contests. Matloob is the fourth bodybuilder to die in Punjab over the last 17 days due to alleged excessive use of steroids. Before him, Rizwan Ali, Humayun Khurram and Hamid Khan also met with the same fate.

Although a link between these deaths and the abuse of steroids has yet to be established, these incidents have raised the issue of uncontrolled and unchecked use of drugs by bodybuilders. Such drugs and supplements are easily available at stores everywhere in the country and commonly used by athletes. This is a serious matter. DRAP needs to issue necessary guidelines for their proper use, in addition to looking at the way they are manufactured.

Uroosa Jadoon

Karachi