Forward Movement Magazine SUMMER ISSUE 2016 | Page 30

BUT FOR AN ALARMING NUMBER OF ASPIRING AND COMPETITIVE BODYBUILDERS
– AND THIS INCLUDES
ANY ATHLETE WHO
USES RESISTANCE TO
BUILD MUSCLE FOR
THE EXPRESS PURPOSE
OF SHOWCASING
THEIR PHYSIQUE – THE
NATURAL ROUTE DOES
NOT CUT IT.

has an opinion on what has arguably become the
most controversial and polarizing substance in
sports. So why are anabolic steroids (synthetic
variations of androgenic hormones such as testosterone) so controversial? To what extent do
“roids” work? Must one use steroids to reach their
full muscle-building potential? And what are the
downsides to juicing up?
STEROIDS: WORTH THE COST?

Great, another article condemning steroid users,
you might be thinking. Why should anyone care
what another injects into their backside (the main
administration route for steroids) in the privacy of
their own home (or gym locker room)?
Steroids are viewed by many as problematic not
least because of the unfair advantage such drugs
give the user. Many reputable studies and much
anecdotal evidence can be cited to prove how
effective steroids are (3, 8, 9, 12). Indeed, gains
of up to 16-pounds of lean muscle mass over a
mere six weeks have been observed in some who
Chemical assistance in the form of various perforchoose to go the chemical route. Steroids – demance drugs – most commonly, anabolic-andropending on the specific stack used – also enable
genic steroids, hereafter referred to as steroids
the user to stay lean year-round, improve strength,
– gives these lifters an edge that is difficult, if not
enhance aggressiveness and energy, increase red
impossible to obtain with even the best training,
blood cell production, and increase appetite. To
nutrition and genetics. So common is steroid use
pose-down successfully alongside a steroid user
among today’s crop of bodybuilding athletes,
would require having to cross over to the dark
and even among recreational lifters with no desire
side, a choice many competitors, for good reason,
to compete, that to train ‘clean’ is often considdo not wish to make.
ered futile. With online suppliers providing ready
First of all, to possess steroids without a preaccess to a tsunami of anabolic substances and
scription is in most countries a criminal offence.
increasing pressure to conform to what is fast
And the cost of getting caught can be severe: jail
becoming an industry standard among all serious
time and a criminal
lifters – ripped to shreds and freakrecord. Thus, to use
ishly massive – the unenlightened
steroids, illegitimatetrainee is, more than ever, faced
ly, makes criminals
with the prospect of becoming
THUS,
TO
USE
out of athletes who
what is colloquially referred to
simply wish to gain
STEROIDS,
within gym circles as a juicehead:
an anabolic edge.
one who uses juice (slang for steILLEGITIMATELY,
Few non-professional
roids) to build muscle.
MAKES CRIMbodybuilders can
While arguments for and against
INALS OUT OF
reconcile the decision
steroid use have raged since their
ATHLETES WHO
inception in the late 1950’s, one
SIMPLY WISH
thing is for certain: steroids work.
TO GAIN AN
However, steroids also have undeANABOLIC EDGE.
niable negative ethical and health
consequences. It seems everyone

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