Question from Richard K.: I'm just over 30 years old and I'm starting to develop a receding hairline. My father, grandad and brother are already bald. A training colleague recommended Propecia to me, which, like alternative products, contains the active ingredient finasteride. Will this affect my performance? I've seen that it's on the doping list, but probably not for performance-enhancing reasons, but because it makes other evidence more difficult. As you have to take the preparation permanently, I would like to know whether it reduces performance or impairs endurance.
Answer from Dr Robert Eifler: Propecia is a preparation for the prevention of hormone-induced male hair loss. The substance finasteride interferes with the metabolism of the male sex hormone testosterone. Finasteride is primarily used to treat pathological prostate enlargement. Due to its structure, it has an antitestosterone effect, which means that it does not enhance performance in any way. The side effects are also corresponding: breast enlargement, reduced libido and potency as well as a reduction in body hair. Finasteride has no longer been a banned substance since 2009, as it has become obsolete as a disguising agent for anabolic steroids due to further developments in detection methods.
