If powerlifters think they’re taking steroids but are actually told it’s just a placebo, their performance boost goes away — meaning the mind plays a big role in the gains they thought came from...

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

Expectancy effects and strength training: do steroids make a difference?

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Expectancy effects and strength training: do steroids make a difference?

Score: 20

DOI: 10.1123/tsp.14.3.272

Similar Assertions

If powerlifters think they're taking steroids—even when they're just getting a fake pill—they might still get stronger, just because their mind expects it to work.

87%

Just believing you're getting a performance boost — even if you're not taking any real drugs — can actually help competitive powerlifters get stronger, showing that mindset really matters in top-level sports.

70%