Diurnal excretion of 17-ketosteroids and their fractions was studied in 43 girl athletes with retarded sexual development (RSD) and 22 patients who did not go in for sports. Twenty-five healthy girls with a normal menstrual cycle constituted the control group. Athletes with RSD showed relative hyperandrogeny marked by a higher proportion of more active androgenic fractions (dehydroepiandrosterone and androsterone) in total 17-ketosteroids. Excretion of neutral 17-ketosteroids in athletes examined, as compared with non-athletes with RSD, was within age-associated norms or surpassed them. It is suggested that androgens of the adrenal cortex are involved into the pathogenesis of RSD in female athletes.