Athletic excellence stems primarily from a combination of genetic endowment, training techniques, appropriate equipment, and proper nutrition. However, the specific genetic and/or intrinsic hormonal factors that contribute to athletic performance are not clearly understood. Androgens, such as testosterone, are thought to play an important role in the regulation of diverse physiological process of target tissues in response to exercise. In adult athletes, the use of exogenous anabolic steroids was found to prove athletic performance, decrease fatigue, change body composition, and increase aggressiveness. However, their benefit in adolescents, who are undergoing rapid growth, sexual maturation and a natural hormonal spurt, remains questionable. Moreover, the possible role of endogenous androgen secretion in improving competitive performance is far less studied.
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