Gym Culture, Identity and Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Tracing a Typology of Steroid Use

The book explores the gym culture, the pursuit of fit, muscular bodies, and the use of drugs to enhance them. It examines the fascination with muscles, motivations for using drugs, assessments of risks, and experiences of side effects. It also investigates the biological and psychological foundations of the fascination with the muscular body and discusses the notion of precarious manhood. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the issue of drugs in sport, the ethics of sport, sociology of sport, sociology of the body, masculinity, or public health.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate world of gym culture, where the pursuit of physical fitness, muscular bodies, and the use of drugs as a means to achieve these goals take center stage. Drawing upon extensive international research literature and in-depth interviews with men who have firsthand experience with image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs), the author explores the profound fascination with muscles, the motivations behind using these substances, the assessments of associated risks, and the profound impact of side effects. The book takes a multi-faceted approach, examining not only the physical transformations wrought by IPEDs but also their profound effects on men's identities, self-images, and relationships with peers and partners.

Employing an evolutionary psychological lens, the author delves into the biological and psychological foundations of the fascination with the muscular body, shedding light on the notion of precarious manhood. Furthermore, the book critically examines the political and regulatory initiatives in place to prevent the use of IPEDs and assesses their potential to achieve their intended goals.

This comprehensive and thought-provoking work is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the realm of drugs in sport, the ethics of sport, sociology of sport, sociology of the body, masculinity, or public health. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics that shape the world of gym culture and provides a deeper understanding of the profound implications of drug use on individuals and society as a whole.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 156 x 236 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367497644