Detection of anabolic-androgenic steroids in body hair from two individuals investigated for sexual assault.

The authors present two cases of sexual assaults where the abuse of anabolic steroids by the perpetrator has been documented. The first perpetrator confessed the use of anabolic steroids for three years. He indicated that the abuse of steroids strongly enhanced his libido. In a second case, a specialist of knockout sport assaulted five women and raped another. He claimed his libido was modified due to long term steroids abuse. Because both subjects were bald, pubic hair and beard hair were collected, respectively. Anabolic steroids were tested in body hair by chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The following steroids were identified and measured in case 1: testosterone (0.9 pg/mg), testosterone enanthate (102 pg/mg), trenbolone (9 pg/mg), trenbolone enanthate (0.8 pg/mg) and metandienone (4 pg/mg). In case 2, the following steroids were identified and measured: testosterone (14 pg/mg), testosterone enanthate (48 pg/mg), trenbolone (0.5 pg/mg), and boldenone (0.3 pg/mg). Although literature data are inconclusive concerning the effects of anabolic steroids on libido, the body hair test results support the claim of both subjects about their use. This test should be considered as a piece of evidence to resolve forensic cases where steroids are mentioned.