The U.S. history of steroids in sports began in 1954. The first ever of the anabolic in history of steroids in sports, Dianabol (Methandrostenolone) was first marketed in the United States in 1956. Dianabol, which virtually cleared the way of the U. S. athletes for the use of anabolic steroids, was developed by Dr. John Ziegler with the help of Ciba pharmaceutical company.

Anabolic steroids began to be widely used and abused in the United States. The first ever survey on steroids in the U.S. history of steroids was conducted in 1970 in which 5 US Universities were surveyed. The survey report revealed that 15% of college athletes were steroid abusers in 1970.

The history of steroids in the United States further articulates that anabolic abuse in Arizona high schools was 0.7% over all, with 4% of athletes admitting steroid use in 1975. And by 1984, 20% of college athletes were using steroids in the United States.

According to a survey in Minneapolis, average rate of steroid abuse in grades 8, 10, and 12 was 3% in 1986. In one of Minneapolis high schools, the rate of steroid use was 8% in senior male students. According to survey in a suburban Chicago school, 6.5% of male students admitted taking steroids, and 2.5% of female students admitted steroid use in 1988.

According to the history of steroids in U.S., surveys in 1989 estimated that there were 500,000 adolescent steroid abusers nationwide, and as many as 1 million steroid abusers of all ages in the United States.

The year 1990 was the turning point in the history of steroids in the United States. The U. S. Federal Law reclassified all anabolic steroids as Controlled Dangerous Substances in November 1990.