Table 1 Group allocation criteria used during initial recruitment of participants

C

1) A control group comprised of non-resistance trained healthy males.

RT

1) History of resistance training ≥ 8 h a week

2) Self-reported as never using any PEDs.

RT-AS

1) History of resistance training ≥ 8 h a week

2) Self-reported to using exogenous AAS (i.e., synthetic AAS), supraphysiological dosages of injectable testosterone (> 100 mg/week) or a closely related AAS compound (i.e., AAS pro-hormones or SARMs) < 52 weeks prior to their first sampling date.

PREV

1) History of resistance training ≥ 8 h a week

2) Self-reported to ceasing usage of exogenous AAS (i.e., synthetic AAS), supraphysiological dosages of injectable testosterone (> 100 mg/week) or a closely related AAS compound (i.e., AAS pro-hormones or SARMs) ≥ 52 weeks prior to their sampling date and not exceeded any clinical recommendations for TRT(24, 25) during this period of absence.