Anabolic steroid trafficking is the illegal supply, distribution, importation or manufacture of anabolic-androgenic steroids in jurisdictions where they are classified as controlled substances, a classification that varies by country, including Schedule IV in Canada, Class C in the United Kingdom and Schedule III in the United States. Where these substances are controlled, a black market exists supplying smuggled, clandestinely manufactured or even counterfeit product to users, separate from their legitimate medical applications, and the controls exist because of the drugs' potential for abuse and dependence.
Facts
Classification CodeIn the United States, anabolic androgenic steroids are classified as Schedule III controlled substances, a category for drugs with recognized medical use that are also recognized as having potential for abuse and dependence. 1 Typical PenaltyUnder the federal penalty structure for Schedule III controlled substances in the United States, a category that includes anabolic steroids, a trafficking conviction carries a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. 2 Notable ExampleThe BALCO scandal exposed the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative's illegal supply of performance enhancing steroids to professional athletes; its founder Victor Conte pleaded guilty in 2005 and served four months in prison. 3 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Anabolic Steroid (Wikipedia)
Legal status sectionQuote, Legal status section
classified as Schedule III controlled substances in many countries, meaning that AAS have recognized medical use but are also recognized as having a potential for abuse and dependence, leading to their regulation and control.
2. 21 U.S. Code section 841 (Cornell LII)
Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institutesubsection (b)(1)(E)Quote, subsection (b)(1)(E)
In the case of any controlled substance in schedule III, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years
3. BALCO Scandal (Wikipedia)
Prosecutions and legal proceedings sectionQuote, Prosecutions and legal proceedings section
Victor Conte pled guilty in 2005 and served four months in prison.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.