Is creatine a steroid? Drug tests, sports bans, and the law

No, creatine is not a steroid. It is a compound your body makes from amino acids and that you also get from meat and fish, and it is not on the anti-doping prohibited list. The real drug-test risk is not creatine itself but supplements that contain banned substances not listed on the label.

By Creatine Today · Editorial policy

Is creatine a steroid?

No. Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, a hormone. Creatine is not a hormone. It is a small compound that your liver and kidneys make from three amino acids (arginine, glycine, and methionine). You also get it from meat and fish, and your muscles store it to help recycle energy during short, hard efforts.

A 2021 review by the International Society of Sports Nutrition addressed this question directly. It concluded that because creatine has a completely different chemical structure, it is not an anabolic steroid. The same review found that the evidence does not show creatine consistently raising testosterone or DHT, two hormones people often link with steroids.

How is creatine different from steroids?

They work in different ways and sit in different legal categories.

Creatine's effect on strength and muscle is real but modest, and it depends on training. Part of the early weight gain is water stored in muscle, not new muscle tissue. It does not produce the large, fast changes in muscle mass linked with steroid use.

Will creatine show up on a drug test?

No. Workplace and school drug tests look for specific drugs, such as cannabis, opioids, amphetamines, and cocaine. Creatine is not one of them, and it does not cause a false positive for those drugs. Sport drug tests look for substances on the anti-doping prohibited list, and creatine is not on that list.

Urine drug tests often measure creatinine, the normal breakdown product of creatine, to check that a sample is not too diluted. Taking creatine can raise creatinine a little, but that does not make a test read positive for any drug. Do not use creatine or anything else to try to change a drug test result. Labs use several checks, and tampering can count as a failed test.

Is creatine banned in sports?

No. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) states that creatine is not prohibited. It is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, which applies to Olympic sports and most international federations. The International Society of Sports Nutrition notes that because creatine is found in normal food, no sport organization bans its use.

NCAA: creatine is not on the NCAA's banned drug classes. Since 2000, however, NCAA rules have not allowed member schools to provide muscle-building supplements such as creatine to student-athletes. Athletes can still buy and use creatine on their own without breaking banned-substance rules. The NCAA also states that there are no NCAA-approved supplements and that student-athletes are responsible for checking with their athletics staff before using any substance.

High school associations, leagues, and professional sports can have their own rules about who may supply supplements. If you compete, ask your athletic department or governing body.

What is the real drug-test risk with creatine?

The risk is contamination. Supplements are not approved before they reach store shelves in the United States, and some contain substances that are not on the label. In a large international study published in 2004, researchers tested 634 non-hormonal supplements bought in 13 countries. Of these, 94 (14.8%) contained anabolic steroids that were not declared on the label. The researchers also showed that very small amounts of one type of contaminant were enough to cause a positive doping result.

That study is now old, but the warning still stands. The NCAA states that student-athletes have tested positive and lost eligibility after using supplements. USADA recommends a food-first approach and, if you use a supplement, choosing a third-party certified product. For tested athletes, plain creatine monohydrate from a brand certified for sport is the lower-risk choice. Blends with many ingredients, such as some gummies or pre-workout products, add more chances for a problem.

Is creatine legal?

Yes. In the United States, creatine is sold legally as a dietary supplement, and it is widely sold in many other countries. Rules on how supplements are labeled and sold differ by country, so check local rules if you are buying abroad. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, have kidney disease, or take regular medication, talk to a clinician before you start.