Anabolic steroids and the law in the US, UK, Canada and Australia

Whether an anabolic steroid is legal to own, import or sell depends almost entirely on where you are. The same vial can be a federal controlled substance in one country, and in another something whose possession is not an offence but whose posting across a border is. This article sets out what the law says in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, quoted from the legislation itself.

It is general information, checked against the primary legislation in September 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply to you depends on details this article cannot know.

United States

A Schedule III controlled substance

Under federal law, "anabolic steroid" is a defined term: "any drug or hormonal substance, chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens, progestins, corticosteroids, and dehydroepiandrosterone)".^[1] Anabolic steroids are in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says Congress has placed a total of 64 anabolic steroids there.^[2] The current regulatory list is at 21 CFR 1308.13.^[4]

Three Acts built that position:

• 1990: the Anabolic Steroids Control Act created the legal definition and placed anabolic steroids in Schedule III.^[1]
• 2004: the Anabolic Steroid Control Act replaced the list of 23 steroids with a list of 59, including steroid precursors (often sold as "prohormones").^[3]
• 2014: the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act named further steroids and brought unlisted substances with a similar structure within the definition when they are made or marketed to promote muscle growth.^[1]

Possession

Possessing a controlled substance without a valid prescription is a federal offence. For a first offence, the maximum is one year in prison, and the fine is a minimum of $1,000.^[5]

Supply

Manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule III substance carries up to 10 years for a first offence, with a fine of up to $500,000 for an individual, and at least two years of supervised release after any prison term.^[6]

Importing and buying online

Importing a Schedule III substance is unlawful unless it is imported "for medical, scientific, or other legitimate uses" under the rules the Attorney General sets.^[7] Buying online is covered specifically: "No controlled substance that is a prescription drug ... may be delivered, distributed, or dispensed by means of the Internet without a valid prescription."^[8]

United Kingdom

Class C, with a personal-possession exemption

Anabolic steroids are Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Act names substances such as nandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone, and also covers compounds structurally derived from them.^[9]

What sets the UK apart is an exemption. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 say the offence of possession "shall not have effect" for drugs listed in Part II of Schedule 4, which is where the anabolic steroids are listed.^[10] Simple possession of those steroids, for yourself, is not an offence in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own regulations, which this article does not cover.

Importing: in person only, since 2012

The exemption for importing is much narrower than many people assume. Since 23 April 2012, it has covered only importation "carried out in person for administration to that person".^[10] The amending regulations explain that the exemption applies only where a person themselves carries out the importation.^[11]

In practice, that means a steroid sent to you by post, courier or freight is not covered by the personal-use exemption, even if it is for your own use.

Supply and production

The personal-possession exemption does not extend to supply. For a Class C drug, production, supply and possession with intent to supply each carry a maximum of 14 years in prison, a fine, or both.^[12] Unlawful importation, prosecuted under customs law, also carries up to 14 years and a fine of any amount.^[13]

Canada

Schedule IV: possession is not an offence, trafficking is

Canada lists "Anabolic steroids and their derivatives" in Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.^[14] The simple possession offence in section 4(1) applies only to substances in Schedules I, II and III, so possessing a Schedule IV substance is not an offence under that section.^[14]

Trafficking, and possession for the purpose of trafficking, is. For a Schedule IV substance it carries up to three years on indictment, or up to one year on summary conviction.^[14]

Importing and exporting

Importing is prohibited outright: "Except as authorized under the regulations, no person shall import into Canada or export from Canada a substance included in Schedule I, II, III, IV, V or VI." For Schedule IV, the maximum is again three years on indictment.^[14] Possession being lawful does not make it lawful to bring steroids into the country.

Australia

Prescription-only, and illegal to possess without authority

Anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents are Schedule 4 (prescription-only) substances in the national Poisons Standard. They are also listed in Appendix D, clause 5, which covers poisons "for which possession without authority is illegal", for example possession other than under a prescription.^[15]

Importing requires written permission

Anabolic and androgenic substances are listed in Schedule 7A of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. Importing them "is prohibited unless ... the person importing the substance is the holder of a permission to import the substance granted in writing".^[16]

State and territory law

The Poisons Standard is a national instrument, but offences and penalties for possession and supply sit largely in state and territory law, and they differ. Queensland, for example, lists steroids as dangerous drugs in its Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987. The list includes testosterone and ends with "any other anabolic and androgenic steroidal agent".^[17] Check the law of the state or territory where you live.

What "legal" does not mean

The legal position is also separate from the question of what is inside a product, which no law guarantees. For that, read how to spot counterfeit steroids and falsified medicines. For SARMs, which are regulated differently, see are SARMs legal?. For the health evidence, see the health risks of anabolic steroids.