Some of you old bastards (like me) might remember the book from the 80s titled Death in the Locker Room. It was a book that, in my opinion, was typical of the Nancy Regan era in that it fell in line with the “Just Say No” drug campaign, with commercials that showed an egg frying in a pan with the mantra “This is your brain on drugs.” Steroids came on big in the 80s, pushing out of the subcultures of bodybuilding and weight lifting and into track and field and other professional sports. This book was written to basically deter steroid use under the pretense that steroids will kill you.
I was only a teen when the book came out (I was still in high school), and I read FLEX magazine for the bible that it was at that time. I wanted nothing more than to get, as my elitefts™ shirts say, “hyooge.” Even as a dumbass teen, I figured that even if steroids weren’t a good idea, they likely weren’t killing people left and right because guys like Arnold didn’t seem to be very dead or appear to be sliding six feet under anytime soon. I was buying the notion that steroids would kill me about as much as I was buying that my brain would fry in a skillet if I smoked reefer. (I was going to go with “blunt,” but reefer was a more accurate 80s colloquialism. I hope my efforts are appreciated.)
Herein lies the problem. It appears that it has taken me 32 years to come back around to where I think there was more to that book than I thought at the time. The reality is that bodybuilders, strength athletes and just regular Joes who have trained for years have started dropping over dead, and the bodies are beginning to stack up so to speak.
There always seemed to be a lack of body bags back then to back up the argument that steroids were killing people, or was it simply that we didn’t have the reach that we have today with social media? There could have been deaths that simply weren’t discussed because those deaths didn’t make it into the papers or on to the news because that was really the only way we would have heard about them. Today, we hear everything in real time because social media is so far reaching. Had we had social media then, would we have heard the same things then that we do now?
For those pro-steroid people reading this who are getting more and more pissed as they get deeper into this article, settle down. Even if you don’t believe that steroids kill, you have to admit that there is quite a body count within the last four or five years of guys who have used steroids extensively dying from either heart-related deaths or kidney failure. This is essentially undeniable I would think. Whether it's coincidence or the numbers are in line with the regular, non-steroid using population can be debated forever.
This list of premature deaths of people who have admitted to extensive steroid use is alarming to me. It seems the typical age for heart-related deaths and kidney failure in this demographic is roughly late 40s and sometimes early 50s. To a 23-year-old kid, sure, this seems pretty old, but I can assure you that when you get to be 45 and still feel 23 (don't laugh you young bastard; it's true), this could be concerning to you based on your past decisions.
Whether steroids cause premature death, I'm unsure. I'm not a doctor and I don’t play one on the internet. Just because a doctor says that steroids will kill you doesn’t make it true. Even the dumbest doctor is more intelligent than I am, but let’s be honest here. Many doctors have matter of fact opinions on a lot of shit and, when you start asking more questions, you find out that they don’t know as much as they thought they did and they get irritated that you're asking so many questions. I remember clearly how in 1988 I was going through the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR) in class (because looking up steroids was far more fun than doing algebra), and for every single steroid compound listed in the PDR, there was an asterisk that stated clearly: “anabolic steroids do not increase athletic performance.” If you read something so stupid in such a well-respected journal, you tend to lose trust in other opinions from the medical community.
RELATED Health and Longevity: The Reality of Steroid Use and Abuse
What isn't debatable is that steroids will increase the risk of heart disease and potential kidney issues. Now just because you smoke cigarettes doesn’t mean you'll get cancer. Just because you use steroids doesn’t mean you'll die from them. Just know that use will increase the risk, and these two areas where risk is increased correlates with the large amount of untimely deaths in the last four or five years. Steroid compounds increase blood viscosity (rbc/hemoglobin/hematocrit). This makes the heart work harder and it makes the blood more likely to clot (read stroke). The size of the heart will increase as well. A normal and common side effect of steroid use is high blood pressure, and high blood pressure over the long term will contribute to poor kidney function. Though some individuals will have more severe symptoms than others, the side effects listed here are undeniable.
To be clear, I didn't write this article to take a stance either against steroid use or for it. I don’t care what you or anyone else does with your life or your body. That's your business, not mine. The point that I'm trying to make is that we need to take a much closer look at what appears to be a connection to steroid use and a lot of guys not living to see 50 years old. In my estimation, the majority of long-term steroid users don't think that steroid use is a health concern. At least if you are going to make the decision to use steroids, you should want to have accurate information on what the consequences could be long term. I know I would want to know, and I think we need to take a closer look. Just sayin’.
You might actually make a better argument if you provided a list of athletes who have actually died from steroid abuse.
Do you think it's simply steroids or more of the stimulants like T3, Clenbuterol and drugs of that caliber? Prep coaches have even admitted their athletes abuse those two particular compounds more so than anabolics. Insulin or GH is never discussed either, I guess they aren't a hot enough topic to capture attention?
See what I'm getting? Can we simply pin point Testosterone or is the DHT compounds or the 19Nor componds?
Forgive me for answering questions with questions.
I would go one step further and say that even if it is not aas and it is something else, it is still a compound that the community is using on a regular basis that is contributing to the increased body count of guys in their 40s.
Then the government got involved, (the Ben Johnson scandal helped) and made them as illegal as cocaine. No more doctors, no more pharmacists. Lots of black-market poisons available. You can count on government to keep us safe.
I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb by suggesting that there is probably a safe way to use the stuff. I don’t think today’s IFBB pros have found it, and the dosages today are just plain crazy. Add to this all the other drugs (diuretics etc.) and your list of casualties is bound to soar.
As a 54 year old; I still feel great (most of the time haha); I think that there is a big difference between use and abuse.
One thing i would like to ask, instead of just pointing to the drugs alone, don't you think that the nature of the sports in general would lead to premature deaths? This is not to say that physical activity would lead to issues, but things like massive calorie intakes, dieting to extreemly low body fat, and etc.
Again i do think that steroids and such do not help, but pointing to just one variable is not fair.
Keep in mind that I am not necessarily saying that the main problem is steroids; I am saying that I believe they play more of a role than I used to believe they did, and that it would be a good idea to take a closer look and see what role they are playing in these premature deaths.
Basically, they just got shredded with diet, cardio, Test & Primo, possibly some winny orals; once again, all pharma.
So it's a combination of massive amounts of drugs and unclean/less pure UGL gear. That is making more sense to me. Lets also not forget the doses taken today are 3-5 times of much as those Golden Age lifters.
What do you think, Skip? Is there some truth to this?
Again, I don't know for sure that aas is the issue, but I think it is more likely now than I have in the past. I tend to believe (this is just me) that it could be the long-term use that stresses the body after years and years (much like smoking or drinking or eating like shit) and the body starts to fall apart. When it does, even lower dosing still has a negative impact where that may not have been the case years earlier. Almost as if it is cumulative stress or "degeneration", for lack of a better way to describe it.
I still want to be clear, though, that I think there are a lot of variables because a guy that takes care of himself by eating well, staying lean, etc., will almost certainly still be better off than someone who uses aas and doesn't take care of himself (or herself).
It's good to see you've begun to accept this instead of filling young minds with false reassurance.
And my opinions based on my experience in this sport do not fill anyone's head with "false reassurance". They are simply opinions - usually above and beyond the years and experience of those that read my articles. You using the phrase, "common sense" implies that you have had the answer all along. Neither of us have answers; we have opinions.
Mike Mentzer died 2001 age 49 heart complications
Ray Mentzer died 2001 age 47 Berger's disease(build-up of cholesterol plaques in the arteries), endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart)
Ron Teufel died 2002 age 45 liver failure
Scott Klein died 2003 age 30 kidney failure and heart failure
Sonny Schmidt died 2004 age 51 cancer
Robert Benavente 2004 age 30 massive heart attack
Charles Durr 2005 age 44 enlarged heart
Don Youngblood 2005 age 51 massive heart attack
Paul Demayo 2005 age 38 heroin overdose
Fannie Barrios 2005 age 41 (female) apparent stroke
Eric Otero 2006 age 37 infection in his tooth that entered his bloodstream
Eduardo Kawak 2006 age 47 heart attack
Rob Sager 2007 age 29 HEART FAILURE
Greg Deferro 2007 age 53 heart disease
Dan Puckett 2007 age 22 heart condition
Shelley Beattie 2008 age 39 (female) depression for six weeks before she hung herself
Joe Meeko 2009 age 48 Lyme disease
Luke Wood 2011 age 35 kidney failure and heart failure
Carlos Rodriguez 1991 age 48 stomach cancer
Mohammed Benaziza 1992 age 33 he took an injection of clenbuterol
Ray McNeil 1995 age 29 killed by his wife
Andreas Münzer 1996 age 31 liver and then kidneys failed
Johnny Fuller 2006 age 62 cancer
Wilfred Sylvester 2006 age 62 alzheimers
Derrick Whitsett 2004 age 38 heart attack
Trevor Smith 2004 age 33 No official cause but he was 400lbs 6ft 1"
Curtis Leffler 1998 age 36 heart attack
Hans Hopstaken 2002 age 45 unspecified heart condition, or pnuemonia
Art Atwood 2011 age 38 heart attack
Bj johns 1995-1996? age 34 New Zealand Heart attack
lou barrie 2001 age 40 died instantly after a massive heart
Claudia Bianchi 2004 age 34 blocked arteries
Big Boss Man' Ray Traylor 2004 age 41 heart attack
Marianna Komlos 2004 age 35 breast cancer
Luke Iams 2003 age unsure 40's heart attack
Anthony Clark 2005 age 39 massive heart attack
Mannie Hamilton 2005 age 62 heart attack
Roger Estep 2005 brain cancer
John Riggins 2005 age 33 kidneys failed, liver stopped functioning, lungs filling up with fluid and he has pneumonia
John Ware 2005 Age 46 (former PLer; current football coach) heart attack
Doug Young, 2005 age 61, powerlifter massive heart attack
Norm Dabish, 2005 age 46, Co-founder of Powerhouse Gyms. heart attack
Herb Glossbrenner, 2005 age 63, suffers stoke
Steve Courson 2005 Steroid whistle blowers for the NFL http://en.wikipedia....i/Steve_Courson crushed to death
Eddie Guerrero, 2005 age 38. acute heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol)
Hans Ossner, 2006 age 64 cancer
Dave Barno, 2006 age 35 dead lifting while back was broken
Russ Knipp 2006 age 63 heart attack
My understanding is in 2013 we have had 12 more well known bodybuilders pass on, including
Nasser El Sonbatey 2013 age 47, Kidney Failure
Casey Viator 2013 age 62, heart attack
Matt Duvall, 2013 age 40 heart attack
And lets not forget those who still hanging on:
Arnold Schwarzenegger triple heart bypass still living
Don Long kidney failure still living
Your list includes a lot of heart attacks and that just backs up my point in my article. You did read the article in its entirety, right?
Your list has way too many unrelated deaths, though, as well. Ray McNeil being killed by his wife certainly wasn't caused by his steroid use. Paul DeMayo dying of a heroin overdose or Shelly Beatie dying of suicide are not related, either. There are some inaccuracies in your list, as well. Momo didn't die from an injection of clen, he died from diuretic use backstage at a show.
There are a lot of heart attacks in that list, no doubt, but there are other variables than simply steroid use that need to be looked at, as well.
Thanks for your response.
Mike Mentzer died 2001 age 49 heart complications
Ray Mentzer died 2001 age 47 Berger's disease(build-up of cholesterol plaques in the arteries), endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart)
Ron Teufel died 2002 age 45 liver failure
Scott Klein died 2003 age 30 kidney failure and heart failure
Sonny Schmidt died 2004 age 51 cancer
Robert Benavente 2004 age 30 massive heart attack
Charles Durr 2005 age 44 enlarged heart
Don Youngblood 2005 age 51 massive heart attack
Paul Demayo 2005 age 38 heroin overdose
Fannie Barrios 2005 age 41 (female) apparent stroke
Eric Otero 2006 age 37 infection in his tooth that entered his bloodstream
Eduardo Kawak 2006 age 47 heart attack
Rob Sager 2007 age 29 HEART FAILURE
Greg Deferro 2007 age 53 heart disease
Dan Puckett 2007 age 22 heart condition
Shelley Beattie 2008 age 39 (female) depression for six weeks before she hung herself
Joe Meeko 2009 age 48 Lyme disease
Luke Wood 2011 age 35 kidney failure and heart failure
Carlos Rodriguez 1991 age 48 stomach cancer
Mohammed Benaziza 1992 age 33 he took an injection of clenbuterol
Ray McNeil 1995 age 29 killed by his wife
Andreas Münzer 1996 age 31 liver and then kidneys failed
Johnny Fuller 2006 age 62 cancer
Wilfred Sylvester 2006 age 62 alzheimers
Derrick Whitsett 2004 age 38 heart attack
Trevor Smith 2004 age 33 No official cause but he was 400lbs 6ft 1"
Curtis Leffler 1998 age 36 heart attack
Hans Hopstaken 2002 age 45 unspecified heart condition, or pnuemonia
Art Atwood 2011 age 38 heart attack
Bj johns 1995-1996? age 34 New Zealand Heart attack
lou barrie 2001 age 40 died instantly after a massive heart
Claudia Bianchi 2004 age 34 blocked arteries
Big Boss Man' Ray Traylor 2004 age 41 heart attack
Marianna Komlos 2004 age 35 breast cancer
Luke Iams 2003 age unsure 40's heart attack
Anthony Clark 2005 age 39 massive heart attack
Mannie Hamilton 2005 age 62 heart attack
Roger Estep 2005 brain cancer
John Riggins 2005 age 33 kidneys failed, liver stopped functioning, lungs filling up with fluid and he has pneumonia
John Ware 2005 Age 46 (former PLer; current football coach) heart attack
Doug Young, 2005 age 61, powerlifter massive heart attack
Norm Dabish, 2005 age 46, Co-founder of Powerhouse Gyms. heart attack
Herb Glossbrenner, 2005 age 63, suffers stoke
Steve Courson 2005 Steroid whistle blowers for the NFL http://en.wikipedia....i/Steve_Courson crushed to death
Eddie Guerrero, 2005 age 38. acute heart failure due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol)
Hans Ossner, 2006 age 64 cancer
Dave Barno, 2006 age 35 dead lifting while back was broken
Russ Knipp 2006 age 63 heart attack
My understanding is in 2013 we have had 12 more well known bodybuilders pass on, including
Nasser El Sonbatey 2013 age 47, Kidney Failure
Casey Viator 2013 age 62, heart attack
Matt Duvall, 2013 age 40 heart attack
And lets not forget those who still hanging on:
Arnold Schwarzenegger triple heart bypass still living
Don Long kidney failure still living