UKAD, along with other organisations, will be giving evidence on IPEDs, including androgenic anabolic steroids and human growth hormones, at the Kia Oval cricket ground in London.

This will include the use and misuse of these drugs by professional sportspeople, as well as usage at an amateur sports level and in public gyms.

"Steroids are now so widespread that they aren’t just the preserve of the sporting community anymore - the pursuit of 'the body beautiful' means that steroid use is increasing particularly amongst younger men and teenage boys," Pat Myhill, director of operations at UKAD said.

"There are significant harms associated with the use of IPEDs, including heart disease and liver damage, as well as those related to mental health, including aggression and depression. 

"We believe the importation and possession - outside of medical use - of these drugs should be made illegal, not only to protect clean sport but a young generation from the serious side effects they can cause.

"We need a strong partnership between Government, public health and sport agencies to better educate the public about the harmful aspects of these substances."

UKAD, together with its partners, the National Crime Agency and UK Boarder Force, have seen a 35 per cent rise over the last year in the importation of steroids from countries such as China, Hong Kong and India as well as Eastern Europe.

Testosterone and growth hormones are the most common substances seized, accounting for 43 and 16 per cent respectively.

Intelligence also suggests that the use of IPEDs is increasing among amateur athletes and gym users with 55 per cent of reports relating to amateur and low level athletes.

UKAD will recommend to the IPEDs' Working Group that the importation of anabolic androgenic steroids should be made illegal, even when they are intended for personal use.

The organisation adds, however, that the possession of these drugs for genuine therapeutic use would remain legal.

Among the other recommendations to be made is that growth hormone releasing factors should be banned "as their use is becoming more widespread at elite and amateur sports level, as well as at public gyms and within the bodybuilding communities".

UKAD will also propose the setting-up of a cross-organisational working group to educate the sporting community as well as the general public about the dangers of steroid use, which it believes should be a priority, as well as a longer-term initiative to tackle the issues.

In July, UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead warned the fight against drugs in sport needs to be stepped-up or participation and audience numbers will decrease.

She also admitted her concerns about the impact recent scandals are having on the public in Britain.

Sapstead claimed she was worried after research showed 66 per cent of the 2,027 British adults surveyed think that stories about an elite athlete or athletes doping in sport have had a negative impact on their trust in its integrity.

She also believes more work should be done to educate society in general about clean sport if faith in the probity of sport is to be restored.

The research, conducted by ComRes and commissioned by UKAD, also revealed nearly half of British adults say high-profile stories on doping in sport make them think that the problem is widespread.

It was published to coincide with the start of "National Clean Sport Week" in Britain, which begun on July 10 and concluded on July 17.

The study did yield positive results for UKAD, however, as it showed nearly two-thirds of adult respondents do not believe Britain has a doping problem.

It found that 65 per cent of those surveyed think that doping is more widespread among elite athletes in other countries than in Britain.

A total of 60 per cent also feel Britain has stricter rules, and better education and testing for elite athletes, than other countries to prevent doping in sport.