KENNARD-DALE HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
393 Main Street
Fawn Grove, PA 17321
Phone: 717-382-4871
Fax: 717-382-4869
Progressive Education to Strengthen the Global
Community
Mr. Gary McChalicher
Athletic Director
Ms. Barb Peterson
Secretary
November 19, 2013
Dear SESD Parents and Students,
It has come to our attention that some SESD students may be experimenting with prohormones. We will attempt to deal with these issues on a case-by-case basis; however, we will
also attempt to educate everyone on this vague, and relatively unknown, topic.
The dietary supplement industry is a multi-billion dollar industry in our country.
Everyone has heard of GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe, and many supplements can be found in local
grocery stores, convenience stores or drug stores. Many individuals use dietary supplements; we
would be ignorant if we attempted to vilify all supplements under the same brush stroke. The
reality is there are different types of dietary supplements and some can be very harmful. SESD
employees are not qualified to provide guidance to students or parents about which dietary
supplements are appropriate for teens to consume. Parents and students should always consult a
physician.
Pro-hormones are currently sold under the label of dietary supplements. They are not
regulated, and are often shut down from sales and production once discovered by government
agencies because they mimic anabolic steroids. They are typically not sold in retail “brick and
mortar” stores and chains because of legal reasons, and are usually only able to be purchased
online. Pro-hormones are not new; they have been around for years. Pro-hormones are
chemically created to mimic actual steroids, however their effectiveness is greatly reduced, while
creating very harmful side effects.
Pro-hormones are created to mimic steroids that come in pill form, much like the oral
steroid Dianabol. The intent is to create a substance that transforms into an anabolic compound
once digested by the human body. If a substance is referred to as “anabolic,” it means it is
supposed to build skeletal muscle. Much like real steroids, pro-hormones are “cycled,” which
means they are taken at a high dosage for a period of 4-12 weeks, and then discontinued for a
period of 6-24 weeks. Pro-hormones are much more accessible and cheaper than real steroids.
The perception is that they are also safer, because they do not involve injections and are easily
purchased. Pro-hormones will show up as positive on a steroid test. After some brief research, I
have realized there are several different manufactures and types of pro-hormones. I suspect that
different substances are supposed to provide different results however; we advise that they are all
equally dangerous. Students and parents are encouraged to research the harmful side effects of
these substances.
Effect on Endocrine System- The endocrine system comprises all of the glands that create and
secrete hormones in the body. By introducing a foreign substance to the body that mimics
testosterone, the body’s natural testosterone production will stop after about two weeks. Side
effects that occur from this are:
 Shrinking of testicles from stoppage of natural testosterone production.
 Increased body acne, which is different than facial acne, and is normally found on the
back.
 Gynecomastia – The development of breast tissue in males; which occurs because of a
natural increase in estrogen from the pro-hormones or steroids.
 Increase in moodiness.
 Introduction of a foreign substance that mimics testosterone at a young age (less than late
20’s) will FOREVER limit the body’s capability to produce testosterone naturally, even
after the first cycle.
 Sexual dysfunction.
Effect on Internal Organs – Due to the complex digestion process that occurs when oral
steroids are ingested, a lot of damage occurs to one’s internal organs. Possible side effects
include:
 High blood pressure
 Increase in cholesterol
 Heart disease
 Liver damage or liver failure if use is prolonged
 Kidney damage or kidney disease if use is prolonged
 Possible brain damage after prolonged use
 Tendons and ligaments are also much more prone to injury in athletes because they
cannot handle the stress of the increased skeletal muscle.
After some research, the number of American teens that use these substances is alarming. I
suspect some students are driven by the desire to get bigger or stronger for athletics, but in many
instances, students are using these substances to get in better shape so they feel more attractive to
the opposite sex.
I have included some links for parents to find out more about these substances. To find
these sites, I simply did a Google search. Here are two forums that permit open discussion about
steroid and pro-hormone use:
www.steroidology.com – click on forums, then pro-hormones or steroids
www.bodybuilding.com – click on forums, then supplements
forums.steriod.com – several options
Here are two sites that openly sell pro-hormones, also found via Google search:
www.ironmaglabs.com
www.strongsupplementshop.com
Please understand that it is our intent to be preventative and informative with this issue.
We do not want these substances in our school. Once this information is dispersed, we do
plan to treat pro-hormones as a “look-alike” drug. If they are found in school, an external
suspension would be warranted and the police may be involved. Students found using prohormones will be ineligible to compete in our athletics program.
Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. Like you, we care about your child’s
health and well-being and strive for a drug-free program. Please do not hesitate to contact me
with questions.
Sincerely,
Gary S. McChalicher
This letter will be included in the Pre-participation packet starting in Spring 2014. In the interim,
we are asking students involved in our various strength training programs to take this letter home
to their parents.
Parent/Guardian
Please sign and return so the student can continue to participate in our programs.
STUDENT NAME (printed)
_______________________
GRADE
_______________________
STUDENT SIGNATURE
_______________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME (printed)
_______________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE
_______________________