Methandienone (also known as Dianabol and methandrostenolone) was the first orally active anabolic steroid to be synthesized and sold on the prescription market and is historically considered to be the most popular performance enhancing drug ever used in strength and physique sports. Methandienone is a C17-alpha-alkylated orally effective anabolic steroid that was released by Ciba Pharmaceuticals to the U.S. prescription drug market in 1958 under the famous brand name Dianabol. Ciba developed methandrostenolone into a medicine with the help of Dr. John Ziegler, who was the team physician for a number of U.S. Olympic teams, including weightlifting.