Turinabol (Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone) — Oral AAS — Anabolic Steroids
Oral anabolic steroid infamously used in the East German state-sponsored doping program. Moderate effects with no legitimate medical approval.
Overview
4-Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (Oral Turinabol, OT) is a 17-alpha-alkylated oral anabolic steroid that is a chloro-substituted derivative of methandrostenolone (Dianabol). Developed by Jenapharm in East Germany in the 1960s, Turinabol became infamous as the cornerstone of the state-sponsored doping program (Staatsplanthema 14.25) administered to thousands of East German athletes from the 1970s to 1989, often without their knowledge or consent. The anabolic:androgenic ratio is approximately 54:6, making it one of the most anabolic-selective oral steroids with very low androgenic activity. Turinabol does not aromatize to estrogen, producing lean, quality gains without water retention. The 4-chloro substitution prevents aromatization and also reduces androgenic potency. Typical gains are modest (5-10 lbs per cycle) but lean and retainable. Turinabol has no legitimate current medical approval in any country. It was used clinically in East Germany for bone and muscle rehabilitation, pediatric growth, and improving recovery from surgery and burns. Long-term side effects in the East German athletes included hepatotoxicity, virilization in female athletes, and various endocrine disruptions, many of which became the subject of criminal investigations and legal proceedings.
Indications
- Historical (East Germany): Bone rehabilitation, pediatric growth, surgical recovery
- No current legitimate medical indications anywhere
- Unapproved: Lean mass gains without water retention (bodybuilding use)
Mechanism of Action
High anabolic:androgenic ratio (54:6) produces muscle-building effects with minimal androgenic side effects
Dosing
| Compound | Dose | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone | 20-40 mg | Once daily | Common bodybuilding dose — NO clinical guidance |
| Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone | 5-10 mg | Once daily | Historical East German dose for female athletes |
Evidence Grade
GRADE D
Safety & Contraindications
- Hepatotoxicity: 17-alpha-alkylated oral steroid
- No legitimate pharmaceutical production — all sources are underground
- Virilization documented extensively in female East German athletes
- Adverse lipid changes (moderate)
- HPG axis suppression
- Long detection time in drug testing (metabolites detectable for months)
- Implicated in widespread health consequences among East German doping victims