en other Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Background:</b> </span>Anabolic‑androgenic steroid (AAS) use is prevalent among athletes, yet its relationship with body image and other characteristics remains insufficiently understood.<br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Objectives:</b> </span>This study examined the prevalence of AAS abuse and its association with body image among male athletes.<br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Methods:</b></span> This cross-sectional study included 300 male athletes aged &ge;15 years in Ahvaz, Iran, recruited through multistage sampling between March 2023 and January 2024. AAS abuse was defined as nonmedical use of anabolic-androgenic steroids without a physician&#39;s prescription or for performance‑ or appearance-enhancing purposes during the previous five years. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire covering demographic characteristics and AAS use, together with the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann&ndash;Whitney U and chi-square tests in SPSS version 25.<br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Results:</b> </span>AAS use was reported by 19.3% of participants. Intramuscular injections were the most common route of administration, and Sustanon was the most frequently used agent. The mean (SD) MBSRQ total score was significantly lower among AAS users than non‑users [220.03 (29.22) vs. 234.45 (21.43), <i>p</i> < 0.001]. AAS use was associated with place of residence (<i>p</i> = 0.012), weekly gym attendance (<i>p</i> = 0.007), supplement use (<i>p</i> < 0.001), illicit drug use (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and training‑session duration (<i>p</i> = 0.020). No significant associations were found with age or education level (<i>p</i> > 0.05).<br> <span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Conclusion:</b></span> Nearly one in five athletes reported AAS use. Users had lower MBSRQ scores than non‑users, indicating differences in body image between the groups. AAS use was also related to several training and substance‑use characteristics.</span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</div> Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, Body Image, Athletes, Men, Substance Abuse. 0 0 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-750-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Saba Rajabi Pour sabarajabi335@gmail.com 100319475328460016168 0009-0005-7471-7332 No Student esearch Committee, Nursing and Midwifery School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Maryam Shami maryamshami1870@gmail.com 100319475328460016169 100319475328460016169 No Midwifery Department, Nursing and Midwifery School, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran Mojgan Javadnoori mojganjavadnoori@gmail.com 100319475328460016170 100319475328460016170 Yes Reproductive Health Promotion Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Azar BabaAhmadi azarb1373@gmail.com 100319475328460016171 0009-0004-7678-032X No Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department, Public Health Faculty, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Amir Javadnoori amirjavadnoori@gmail.com 100319475328460016172 0009-0000-8642-563X No Education Department, Khuzestan, Dezful, Iran Mohammad Safaii Pour tube.msp77@gmail.com 100319475328460016173 0009-0005-5433-5281 No Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Milad Sedaghati Pour sahmb79@gmail.com 100319475328460016174 0009-0002-6595-0384 No Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran