SANTO DOMINGO.- After the death of the young man Ismael Ureña Pérez, 14 years old, who died after allegedly receiving an injection of the veterinary steroid «horse«, expert warn of the danger that these anabolic steroids represent for humans.
In search of rapid improvements in athletic performance and physical appearance, some young people have resorted to the use of anabolic steroids intended for animals, such as Boldenone, popularly known as “horse«. This practice represents a serious health risk, especially in 14-year-old adolescents, whose bodies are still developing.
The experts speak
Dr. Rafael Mena, a neonatal intensive care pediatrician in the Dominican Republic, warns about the dangers of these substances.
«The indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids can trigger hypertension in patients, kidney problems, eye problems and increased blood sugar. “There must be control here,” said the doctor.
For his part, Dr. Richard Medina, a nephrology specialist, who has treated cases of adolescents with severe kidney damage due to the consumption of these steroids, said that he has “found 15 cases in the last year, among my patients alone, of adolescents with severe kidney damage, with the common denominator of having been exposed to steroids to improve their baseball performance. That’s a scandal.”
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The US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) points out that “anabolic steroids can cause serious, long-lasting and, in some cases, irreversible damage. “They can cause premature heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure and psychiatric problems.”
Risks in adolescents
The use of Boldenone in minors can trigger severe problems, such as: growth arrest. Boldenone can accelerate the closure of bone growth plates, preventing the adolescent from reaching their potential adult height.
Hormonal alterations: At 14 years old, the hormonal system is in critical balance. Introducing a steroid like “Caballín” can cause gynecomastia (breast growth in men), infertility, testicular atrophy and erectile dysfunction.
Liver and kidney toxicity: Boldenone is designed for animals, and its use in humans is highly toxic to organs such as the liver and kidneys, which can lead to organ failure.
Cardiovascular problems: These steroids increase the risk of hypertension, elevated levels of bad cholesterol, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Psychological consequences: In adolescents, the use of Boldenone can trigger extreme aggression, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
The danger of the “Caballín” in inexperienced hands
The problem worsens when the substance is acquired on the black market, where there are no quality controls or guarantees of its correct handling. In many cases, these injections are performed without medical supervision, increasing the risk of serious infections or fatal allergic reactions.
Dr. Mena emphasizes that “there must be control here. The Ministry of Sports must have actions for those leaders who commit this and the exhaustive use of doping tests, making them more rigorous to prevent those children from doing that.”
A call to action
Specialists urge authorities to strengthen control over the sale of veterinary steroids and implement educational campaigns aimed at adolescents and their families.
The president of the Dominican College of Veterinary Doctors, Dr. Waskar Ariza, considered that it is a crime to apply anabolic drugs created for animals to athletes with the aim of achieving better performance and greater muscle mass.
Ariza denounced that veterinary stores are selling “without any prescription” all types of medications designed to obtain greater muscle mass of animals, but they are used in young athletes, mostly for those athletes who play baseball.
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