Anabolic steroids may have a greater effect...

Anabolic steroids may have a greater effect on the mind than the body of athletes, a British television documentary says.

“QED: The Steroid Myth” presents evidence from the United States, Britain and Italy challenging the view that the physical effects of steroids can turn good athletes into world champions.

“The idea that steroids enhance performance may be another damaging myth,” the program, scheduled for airing today on British Broadcasting Corporation, concludes.

To support this point, the program cites evidence at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, where a group of male athletes were tested for nine weeks.

All were injected with a variety of treatments, including steroids and placebos--substances that have no medical effect and are used merely as a testing device.

According to the university’s Dr. Douglas Crist, there was “no statistical significant change in body fat . . . no statistical significant change in muscular power.”

Nevertheless, the athletes reported that they felt stronger.