Norway: Amended Law Prohibits Purchase and Use of Anabolic Steroids (2024)
(July 9, 2013) <?Norway's Medicinal Products Act was amended on June 14, 2013, to make the use and purchase of anabolic steroids illegal. Formerly, it was illegal to import and sell these substances in Norway, but not to buy or consume them. (Julie Ryland, Illegal to Buy and Consume Anabolic Steroids in Norway, THE NORWAY POST (July 2, 2013).) The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation recently reported that a number of experts have found an increased use of drugs among Norwegian teenagers trying to build muscle. Minister of Health and Care Services Jonas Gahr Støre stated, “[w]e are now sending a very strong signal that these drugs are not ok.” (Id.)
According to a new section 24a of the Act, it is prohibited to unlawfully acquire, possess, or use a drug considered to be a doping agent under the Penal Code. The prohibition also applies to products containing such substances. (Lov om legemidler m.v. (legemiddelloven) [Act on Medicinal Products, etc. (Medicinal Products Act), Act No. 132 (Dec. 4, 1992, as last amended June 14, 2013, in force as of July 1, 2013), [note: an additional amendment, dated June 21, 2013, to insert a new § 30a, has not yet entered into force].)
The Penal Code stipulates that anyone who unlawfully manufactures, imports, exports, stores, sends, or conveys any substance deemed to be a means of doping, pursuant to provisions made by the King, is guilty of a doping felony and liable to fines or a prison term of up to two years (The General Civil Penal Code, Act No. 10 (May 22, 1902, as amended), §162 b, ¶ 1.) A list of permitted/prohibited drugs is found in the Regulations on Drugs (Forskrift om narkotika (narkotikaforskriften), Regulations No. 199 (Feb. 14, 2013, in force Feb. 14, 2013), LOVDATA.)
The amendment of the Act brings Norway into closer compliance with the Council of Europe (COE) Anti-Doping Convention, which states in its article 4(1):
The Parties shall adopt where appropriate legislation, regulations or administrative measures to restrict the availability (including provisions to control movement, possession, importation, distribution and sale) as well as the use in sport of banned doping agents and doping methods and in particular anabolic steroids. (Anti-Doping Convention, ETS No. 135 (Nov. 16, 1989), COE website.)
Norway signed and ratified the Convention on November 16, 1989; it entered into force in Norway on March 1, 990. (Anti-Doping Convention CETS: No. 135: Status as of July 9, 2013, COE website (last visited July 9, 2013).) The “Prohibited List,” in an Annex to the Convention, sets forth “the substances and methods linked with doping and thus prohibited by the relevant international sports organisations.” (What Is the Prohibited List?, COE website (last visited July 9, 2013).)
Among the List’s “Substances and Methods Prohibited at All Times (in- and out-of-Competition)” are anabolic agents, including anabolic androgenic steroids (both exogenous steroids, i.e., those not usually produced naturally by the body, and endogenous ones, i.e., those capable of being produced naturally by the body, when administered from outside the body) and other anabolic agents. (The 2013 Prohibited List (in force on Jan. 1, 2013), § 1, COE website.)
As an expert in the field of pharmaceutical regulations, particularly in Norway, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of the Medicinal Products Act and its recent amendments. My extensive knowledge in this area stems from years of research, academic pursuits, and practical experience, making me well-versed in the legal landscape surrounding medicinal substances, including anabolic steroids.
The article you've provided, dated July 9, 2013, highlights crucial changes in Norway's Medicinal Products Act. On June 14, 2013, an amendment was made to declare the use and purchase of anabolic steroids illegal. This marked a significant shift from the previous regulations where it was only illegal to import and sell such substances, but not to buy or consume them.
The newly introduced section 24a of the Medicinal Products Act explicitly prohibits the unlawful acquisition, possession, or use of drugs classified as doping agents under the Penal Code. This prohibition extends to products containing these substances, reinforcing the government's stance against the use of such performance-enhancing drugs.
The Penal Code in Norway, as outlined in Act No. 10 of May 22, 1902, and subsequent amendments, imposes penalties on individuals involved in the unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, storing, sending, or conveying of substances deemed as doping agents. Violators can face fines or imprisonment for up to two years.
To align with international standards, especially the Council of Europe (COE) Anti-Doping Convention, Norway amended its laws to restrict the availability and use of banned doping agents and methods in sports. The Convention, signed and ratified by Norway on November 16, 1989, emphasizes the adoption of appropriate legislation to control the movement, possession, importation, distribution, and sale of such substances.
The Prohibited List, an integral part of the Anti-Doping Convention, details substances and methods linked with doping that are prohibited by international sports organizations. Among the substances prohibited at all times, both in- and out-of-competition, are anabolic agents, encompassing anabolic androgenic steroids. These include exogenous steroids, not naturally produced by the body, and endogenous ones, capable of being naturally produced when administered externally.
In conclusion, the amendments to Norway's Medicinal Products Act reflect a commitment to combat the illicit use of anabolic steroids, especially among teenagers. The alignment with international conventions underscores Norway's dedication to eradicating doping in sports and promoting a fair and healthy competitive environment.
Norway's Medicinal Products Act was amended on June 14, 2013, to make the use and purchase of anabolic steroids illegal. Formerly, it was illegal to import and sell these substances in Norway, but not to buy or consume them.
The Act amended the Controlled Substances Act to revise and add specified substances to the definition of “anabolic steroid.” The Act provided a new mechanism for temporary and permanent scheduling of anabolic steroids, and added specific labeling requirements for products containing anabolic steroids.
Banned androgenic agents are either anabolic steroids, which increase testosterone and epitestosterone, thereby improving muscle strength and endurance, or beta-2 agonists (see adrenergic beta-agonist). Andro, DHEA, stanozolol, testosterone, and nandrolone, or derivates (see below) are banned anabolic steroids.
Yes, it is illegal to use steroids without a valid prescription or to distribute them. Steroids are Schedule III substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule III drugs, which have a legitimate medical function, may lead to moderate to low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
In 1975, the International Olympic Committee first banned the use of anabolic steroids. Now most athletic organizations prohibit the use of these substances, and drug testing has become routine in professional sports 1.
Steroid use has been banned in the United States since the passage of the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990. \1\ Many athletic organizations conduct testing for steroids, but the illegal use of these substances continues to be a problem among professional athletes.
Steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). This can help with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema. Steroids also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
Testosterone. Testosterone is considered the safest oral steroid and is available in both oral and injectable forms. Widely prescribed to treat low testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) delivers carefully measured doses of testosterone.
How a Steroids Charge Can Harm You. For a first conviction of possessing anabolic steroids, you can be sentenced to up to one year in prison. For a second conviction you could serve up to two years in prison, and up to three years for a third conviction.
Besides the health risks, people who use steroids without a prescription are breaking the law. Drug testing for all athletes is common, and those who fail a drug test for steroids can face legal consequences, including jail time, monetary fines, being banned from an event or team, or forfeiture of trophies or medals.
United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, anabolic steroids are completely legal for personal use although it is illegal to sell them. In 2008, a study published in the Lancet suggested that anabolic steroids are less dangerous than most other illegal substances, and some legal ones.
Anabolic steroids can also be prescribed to replace muscle lost because of conditions such as cancer or AIDS, or to treat some types of breast cancer and anaemia. Some competitive athletes, body builders and people who need strong muscles for their work take anabolic steroids to: build lean muscle.
Yes. Although male and female hormonal systems are different, using testosterone (or other steroidal compounds) to build muscle works in a similar way for both genders.
Prohibits importing, exporting, manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense any anabolic steroid, or any product containing an anabolic steroid, unless it bears a label clearly identifying the anabolic steroid by the nomenclature used by the International ...
Legalization of steroids can help remove their stigmatization. The negative side effects are often sensationalized and the potential benefits are down- played. In addition while many overtly denounce steroids, as a society we covertly support their use.
Major League Baseball (MLB) was rocked by the Steroids Era in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It involved hundreds of players using illegal anabolic steroids and other banned substances to enhance their performance on the field. Widespread steroid use angered the league and its fans.
In addition, as a result of the passage of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, anabolic steroids, as a class of drugs, were placed under the CSA effective February 27, 1991.
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