Dianabol (Methandienone) was developed by pharma company CIBA in 1955 for androgen replacement therapy. American Olympic doctor John Ziegler is credited with introducing the steroid to athletes to try and get a leg up on their Russian rivals. He liked that it could be orally taken, taking away the injecting aspect. It was also used in the 1960s by college and pro football players.
CIBA would later stop producing it in 1983 due to government pressure, and the FDA in 1985 revoked it entirely, which was followed by a complete ban on non-medical use in 1990 in the United States. Today, it is produced in other countries for some medical reasons and used by bodybuilders and weight lifters in the USA.