Is Turkesterone Legal?
The question, “Is turkesterone legal?” is one of the burning questions in the search for ‘legal’ steroids. Stick around as we answer and enlighten you about its legality in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
At the end of this article, you’ll also learn about its limitations and FDA status, which could help you decide whether turkesterone is legal in bodybuilding and sports.
Is Turkesterone Legal in the US?
Yes, Turkesterone is legal in the US. You can advertise, import, export, and buy or sell turkesterone supplements locally. Doing so on these over-the-counter products will not make you break any laws.
Although Turkesterone is an insect steroid hormone—an analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone, it isn’t your typical anabolic steroid that’s illegal in the US due to its side effects. You can be charged with a crime without a prescription when caught using or distributing synthetic anabolic steroids.
Is Turkesterone Legal in All Countries?
Besides the US, Turkesterone is legal in most countries like Canada, UK, and Australia. They allow their citizens to use turkesterone supplements as natural steroids for muscle growth while increasing protein synthesis.
You can enjoy such muscle growth or muscle-building benefits and avoid possible side effects by taking the proper Turkesterone dosage.
However, you must present special documentation or licensing to ship the product. The license might be difficult for everyday users to get a hold of but much easier for turkesterone supplement companies.
Is Turkesterone FDA Approved?
While Turkesterone is legal, it’s not FDA Approved. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) disapproves of steroids because of their side effects on the body. The only exception is Creatine, approved for short-term use in the muscle-building industry.
As such, you must inform yourself about turkesterone news and its side effects, especially when using it for muscle growth or muscle mass gains. Moreover, do some due diligence before committing to a cycle or to know how much turkesterone is recommended.
What Makes Turkesterone Legal While Other Alternatives Illegal?
Many consider Turkesterone (and other natural steroid alternatives) legal because they’re safer than synthetic anabolic steroids.
Steroids are synthetic substances that mimic testosterone, the male sex hormone. They’re medically relevant since doctors prescribe them to men who naturally can’t produce enough testosterone.
They can also be prescribed to manage swelling and certain anemia, but never to build muscle mass during bodybuilding/sports competitions, and to use it as such is considered illegal. The reason for such is that it gives users an unfair advantage, and the FDA has flagged steroids as being able to cause serious harm to the human body.
Turkesterone, on the other hand, is natural, making it one of the legal alternatives. It doesn’t bind to the androgen receptors in the body like other anabolic steroids, removing a significant amount of severe side effects that other anabolic steroids have.
Why Are Steroids Considered Illegal?
The following are some of the side effects common with the abusive use of anabolic steroids, making it illegal without prescription:
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Hormonal Imbalance
Using steroids can cause hormonal imbalance, leading to the development of masculine traits in women and feminine characteristics in men.
Guys can suffer from gynecomastia or gyno, which increases their breast gland tissues. Meanwhile, women can see a drastic reduction in breast size and have their voices deepen.
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Stunted Growth in Teens
Teens who are yet to experience or are only just experiencing puberty are at risk of stunted growth.
That’s because most of the body’s growth processes stop after puberty, and ingesting steroids gives the body the cue to halt growth. The presence of these hormones that should only become present after puberty misleads the body’s mechanisms.
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May Cause Dermatological Issues
Abusing steroids can leave users, males and females, disfigured. Some are in the form of baldness, greasy hair, and severe acne breakouts.
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Can Cause Erratic Mood Changes
Some field studies in the 80s indicated that people who use androgenic-anabolic steroids were likely to develop hypomanic or manic syndromes.
Some people also had depressive episodes with suicidal ideation, although they never actually resulted in any suicide cases.
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Steroid Dependence (Addiction)
While not your typical case of addiction, many users develop a dependence on the use of androgenic-anabolic substances.
This dependence usually shares many features with more commonplace drug addiction, such as tolerance, withdrawal stages, and an unhealthy amount of time devoted to acquiring and consuming these substances.
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Muscle Dysmorphia
This side effect is one of the psychiatric effects of using steroids. Bodybuilders who look big to the average eye may constantly look at themselves in the mirror, worried they don’t look big enough.
They then engage in rigorous low-fat diets, ingest steroids, and compulsively lift weights to gain muscle. No matter how lean or big they get, they never feel good enough, leading to an unhealthy obsession and irreversible damage to the body.
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Cardiac Issues
Continuous use of androgenic-anabolic steroids causes strain on the muscles in the body, one of which is the heart.
The heart, which never rests, can compromise its systolic and diastolic functions—a condition known as cardiomyopathy.
However, this condition can resolve itself soon after the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is discontinued.
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Adverse Effect on Other Organs
Continuous use of androgenic-anabolic steroids can also have adverse effects on other body organs.
Users are at a higher risk of hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. These could lead to dementia, ruptured tendons, and other orthopedic issues.
Is Turkesterone Banned in Bodybuilding Competitions?
No record of Turkesterone being banned by the World Natural Bodybuilders Federation (WNBF) or the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) makes it one of the natural legal steroids.
Taking turkesterone can build lean muscle mass, stimulate muscle growth, and boost protein synthesis. You can enjoy all of these muscle-building effects without the fear of experiencing adverse anabolic effects.
Click here for a comprehensive list of substances banned by the WNBF and here for the same from the IFBB.
Is Turkesterone Banned in Sports?
No, it’s not a banned substance. It’s 100% legal to use Turkesterone, as it’s not on any blacklists at the time of writing, making it one of the legal steroids.
However, no one can say how long this will remain since scientists have recently recommended the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) include ecdysterone on their list. You can learn more about the legality of this natural steroid in this extensive guide.
As mentioned, Turkesterone was an analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone, also known as ecdysterone, found in spinach, some aquatic life, and insects.
According to Deutsche Well (DW), some scientists conducted extensive research on 46 athletes to test how their performance was influenced by the substance (ecdysterone). Some participants ingested the equivalent of up to four kilograms (8.8 lbs) in ecdysterone capsules, while others ingested a placebo.
The result of the study was that participants who had taken the ecdysterone saw their physical presence increase by three times compared to participants that only took the placebo.
What Are Supplement Prohibited Lists?
All organizations have prohibited supplement lists, but most are piggybacking on WADA.
WADA is an organization that ensures the sport’s spirit isn’t at risk due to the use of foreign substances.
Substances that are seen to give unfair advantages to athletes or can be a potential health risk are put on the prohibited list. Another category you’ll likely find on this list is substances still needing to undergo extensive human trials.
Has WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Banned Turkesterone Supplements?
No, WADA hasn’t prohibited turkesterone, making it one of the best legal steroids.
As such, you can use turkesterone to build lean muscle mass or for muscle growth. You can also buy turkesterone to boost your athletic performance without needing post-cycle therapy (PCT), which is required when using performance-enhancing drugs.
Any substance prohibited by WADA is a no-go for anyone trying to get into any sports or competition, and turkesterone supplements aren’t on the list.
Click here for a list of substances on WADA’s blocklist.
Is Turkesterone Banned by NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)?
As of this writing, the NCAA hasn’t banned Turkesterone since it’s a naturally occurring ecdysteroid in the Ajuga Turkestanica plant.
This means you can buy Turkesterone to boost strength for your sports performance, as it’s one of the known benefits of turkesterone.
However, it’s currently on WADA’s watchlist, so you should check it out once in a while to stay informed and away from trouble. Click here to see substances presently banned by the NCAA.
How Do I Know If My Supplements Are Banned?
One of the best ways to know if your supplements are banned is to check their ingredients. You can do this by checking the following tips:
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Check the Labels
The most straightforward way is to look at the label on the packaging. But it should continue, as many labels need to be completed or corrected. You can proceed to the other two tips to help with your inquiry.
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Recognize Likely Product Categories
Recognizing the category of products likely to feature banned substances narrows your search. Products for muscle building, sexual enhancements, weight loss, or energy gain are more likely to feature prohibited substances.
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Recognize Names That Might Indicate Steroid or Stimulant
One way you can get going is to put the suffix of the substance under the microscope. If the substance contains any of the suffixes below, it may contain stimulants or steroids.
- -aminol
- -ol, -diol
- -pentane
- -one, -dione
- -hexane
- -dienone
- -heptane
- -stene
- -ermine
- -amine, -arine
Final Thoughts: Turkesterone Is A Legal Steroid
Turkesterone from the Ajuga Turkestanica plant is a legal steroid. Most countries allow shipping, advertising, and buying turkesterone supplements. The only drawback is the difficulty of acquiring the proper documentation for such.
The best thing about it is that it’s safe since Turkesterone doesn’t have the adverse effects that other anabolic-androgenic steroids have. As such, no anti-doping agency has banned it yet.
However, it might change anytime in the future. It’s in your best interest to check the prohibited lists and research before taking Turkesterone in any competitive sports performance.
You can also learn more about Turkesterone and its possible benefits, side effects, dosage, and more in our extensive Turkesterone guide.
FAQs
Is Turkesterone a steroid?
No, it’s not a synthetic anabolic steroid, making it one of the best legal steroids.
Can I take Turkesterone while in the military?
Yes, since Turkesterone use isn’t prohibited for Service Members.
Does Turkesterone show up in a drug test?
No, it won’t show up on a drug test.
Can you stack Turkesterone and Ecdysterone?
Yes, you can stack both Turkesterone and Ecdysterone regardless of your gender.
Is Ecdysterone legal?
Yes, Ecdysterone is legal and can be bought legally as a dietary supplement.