§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to make the possession of anabolic steroids a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 22 February 1991]: Ministers of the Departments concerned have decided after careful study not to seek to make the unauthorised possession of steroids a crime. Carefully targeted measures to tackle steroid misuse are being developed, with emphasis on protection of young people. These include a new criminal offence of supplying steroids to minors, even without payment. This is designed to prevent coaches or other adults from giving supplies of steriods to the young people they are training; additional research into the extent of steroid misuse and to improve the testing and detection methods used in sporting circles; enhanced and extended educational efforts aimed at the public and more particularly sport to draw attention to the health problems to which steroid misuse can give rise; more vigorous action under the Medicines Act 1968 against those who advertise these products—for example in bodybuilding magazines.
Consultations about these measures with interested organisation, at home and in Europe will begin as soon as possible.