Walk into any high-end commercial gym at 6:00 PM and you’ll see them. The guys with shoulders so round they look like cannonballs and veins snaking across their biceps like a topographical map of the Amazon. You’ve probably wondered—honestly, we all have—do bodybuilders use steroids or is that just what happens when you eat enough chicken and broccoli?
The answer isn't a simple yes or no because "bodybuilding" isn't one single thing. It’s a spectrum. On one end, you have the "natural" shows where athletes pee in cups and take polygraph tests. On the other, you have the IFBB Pro League and the Mr. Olympia stage, where the sheer scale of human mass defies the laws of biology. If we’re being real, the "Open" division of professional bodybuilding is basically an unspoken arms race of pharmacology.
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It’s not just about getting big anymore. It’s about getting big while staying "dry" and "granite-hard," look that the human body isn't designed to maintain.
The Massive Elephant in the Weight Room
When people ask if bodybuilders use steroids, they’re usually looking at the giants of the industry like Chris Bumstead or the late, legendary Ronnie Coleman. Ronnie famously claimed he was natural for years, but later discussed his use in documentaries like Ronnie Coleman: The King. The reality is that at the elite level, the genetic ceiling is a real thing.
Your body has a built-in thermostat for muscle called myostatin. It’s a protein that tells your muscles to stop growing so you don’t become so heavy that your heart fails or your tendons snap. Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) basically tell that thermostat to take a hike. They increase protein synthesis and nitrogen retention to levels that a steak dinner simply cannot match.
But it’s not just the pros. Go on TikTok or Instagram. You’ll see 19-year-olds with "SARM" in their bio looking like they’ve been training for twenty years. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) and other "research chemicals" have blurred the lines. It’s a weird time. People are more open about it than ever, yet the stigma remains thick enough to cut with a dull gym membership card.
Why the Question "Do Bodybuilders Use Steroids" is Complicated
You have to look at the different federations. If you’re watching the INBA (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) or the NANBF, those athletes are tested. They have to stay clean for years to compete. These guys and girls are incredible, but they don't look like comic book characters. They look like very fit, very muscular humans.
Then you have the "untested" shows.
In these circles, "enhanced" is the polite term. It’s not just testosterone, either. The cocktail often includes:
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- Trenbolone: Originally for cattle, it's famous for building hard muscle while burning fat, but it's notorious for "Tren cough" and night sweats.
- Growth Hormone (GH): This helps with recovery and fat loss but can lead to the "GH gut" where internal organs grow, pushing the abs outward.
- Insulin: Used to shove nutrients into muscle cells, but it’s incredibly dangerous if timed incorrectly.
- Diuretics: These aren't for muscle building; they’re for shedding every ounce of water right before a show so the skin looks like parchment paper over the muscle.
It's a high-stakes gamble. Dr. Harrison Pope, a professor at Harvard Medical School who has studied steroid use for decades, has highlighted the "Adonis Complex." It's a form of body dysmorphia where no matter how big you get, you still feel small. This mental aspect is often what drives the transition from natural training to that first cycle.
The Biological Price of Admission
Let’s talk about the stuff people don't post on Instagram. Using these substances isn't like taking a multivitamin. It changes your chemistry.
When you introduce exogenous (outside) testosterone, your body’s own production shuts down. Your testicles basically say, "Oh, we're good here," and go on permanent vacation. This is why many lifters have to stay on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) for the rest of their lives.
Then there's the heart. The heart is a muscle, too. Steroids can cause left ventricular hypertrophy—the thickening of the heart walls. A thick heart is a stiff heart. It doesn't pump blood well. We’ve seen a string of tragic, early deaths in the bodybuilding world over the last few years—guys like Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson. While causes vary, the strain of extreme bodybuilding is a constant conversation in the community now.
Kidney stress is another big one. Processing all that extra protein along with various oral steroids like Anadrol or Dianabol (which are liver-toxic) puts the organs in a vise. It’s a lot. Honestly, it's a full-time job just managing the side effects.
The Rise of the "Fake Natty"
This is what really grinds the gears of the fitness community. A "Fake Natty" is someone who uses performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) but claims their physique is purely the result of hard work and whatever supplement they happen to be selling.
Why do they lie? Money.
If a fitness influencer admits they’re on $500 worth of gear a month, you won't buy their $60 "Extreme Muscle Builder" protein powder. You’ll realize the powder isn't the secret sauce. This deception creates unrealistic expectations for teenagers who think they can look like a pro bodybuilder in six months if they just "grind harder." It’s deceptive, and it’s honestly pretty damaging to the mental health of younger lifters.
How to Spot the Signs (Without Being a Hater)
You can't always tell for sure—genetics are wild—but there are certain "tells" that suggest someone might be answering the question "do bodybuilders use steroids" with a needle.
- The 3D Shoulders: The shoulders and traps have a higher density of androgen receptors. If someone’s deltoids look like inflated pumpkins while the rest of them is lean, that’s a red flag.
- Rapid Transformation: Adding 20 pounds of lean muscle in a summer? Not happening naturally. Natural muscle growth is a slow, agonizing process of grams, not pounds.
- Skin Changes: Severe cystic acne on the back (backne) or a sudden "flushed" or red complexion can be signs of high blood pressure or hormonal shifts.
- Gynaecomastia: Sometimes called "puffy nipples," this happens when excess testosterone aromatizes into estrogen.
The Culture is Shifting
Interestingly, we're seeing a bit of a "transparency era." Bodybuilders like Greg Doucette, Noel Deyzel, and even Larry Wheels have been incredibly open about their use, the dosages, and the regrets. This honesty is refreshing. It takes the "magic" out of it and reveals the grit—and the danger—underneath.
They’re showing that steroids aren't a shortcut. You still have to train harder than everyone else. You still have to weigh your rice and chicken to the gram. The drugs just allow you to train harder and recover faster. They don't do the lifting for you. In fact, most people who take steroids still look like they barely lift because they haven't mastered the basics of diet and intensity.
Actionable Reality Check for Lifters
If you're looking at bodybuilders and wondering if you should take the plunge, take a breath. There's a lot you can do before even thinking about the dark side of the pharmacy.
Max Out Your Natural Potential First
Most people haven't even touched their genetic ceiling. Are you sleeping 8 hours a night? Is your protein intake at least 0.8g to 1g per pound of body weight? Have you stayed consistent with a heavy lifting program for at least five years? If not, you're leaving gains on the table.
Get Regular Blood Work
Whether you’re natural or thinking about TRT, you need to know your numbers. Check your total and free testosterone, your lipids, and your liver enzymes. Knowledge is power. Seeing your LDL cholesterol spike or your kidney markers drift out of range is a great way to stay grounded.
Focus on Longevity, Not Just Peak
Bodybuilding is a sport of "now." But you have to live in your body for decades. The guys who "blast" heavy cycles in their 20s often pay for it in their 40s. Natural bodybuilding might be slower, but your heart and kidneys will thank you when you're 60.
Understand the Legal Risks
In many places, including the U.S., possessing steroids without a prescription is a felony. It's not just a health risk; it's a legal one. Law enforcement has cracked down on "underground labs" (UGLs) that often produce contaminated or under-dosed products in less-than-sterile conditions.
Master the Mindset
The biggest "muscle" you can build is your relationship with your own body. If you’re training because you hate how you look, no amount of steroids will fix that. You’ll just be a bigger person who still feels inadequate. Train for performance, for health, and for the discipline of the lift.
The world of bodybuilding will always have a complicated relationship with chemistry. While many elite bodybuilders do use steroids to reach the pinnacle of the sport, the trend is moving toward education and harm reduction rather than total secrecy. Whether you choose to stay natural or go the enhanced route, the most important thing is making an informed decision that doesn't sacrifice your long-term health for a temporary trophy.
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Focus on the "Big Three" of natural growth: progressive overload in the gym, a slight caloric surplus with high protein, and obsessive consistency. That's how you build a physique that actually lasts.