Furazabol

Furazabol (Miotolan) is a derivative of the anabolic steroid stanozolol. It differs from stanozolol by having a furazan ring system in place of the pyrazole. It has a c-17alpha methyl group, which allows it to be taken orally and causes heptatoxicity in some individuals. The more intriguing characteristic of this steroid is that (unlike other anabolic steroids) furazabol has the ability to lower cholesterol levels.^{[citation needed]}

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According to William Llewellyn, author of Anabolics 2007, the cholesterol-lowering effects of Furazabol are a myth. In the 1970s, research studies showed that Furazabol along with many other orally-active AAS like Anavar (oxandrolone) lowered total serum cholesterol. It was subsequently established that the cholesterol reduction from oral AAS was the result of suppressed HDL levels. As such, it would be expected that Furazabol, like other oral anabolic steroids, while reducing total cholesterol levels would still adversely affect the HDL/LDL ratio and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Diversion of this obscure pharmaceutical steroid to the black market rarely occurred while it was being manufactured by Daiichi Seiyaku Company in Japan. However, a number of underground labs (UGL) have produced limited quantities of Furazabol in recent years. Additionally, a non-methylated derivative of Furazabol called Furaguno is currently being sold over-the-counter on the sport nutrition market in the United States in 2006 and 2007.

The Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for Stanozolol after winning the gold medal in the 100 meter sprint at the 1988 Summer Olympics. His doctor, Dr. Jamie Astaphan, maintains that his urine sample was sabotaged because Johnson was administered Furazabol which would have cleared his system well in advance of the competition.